CSSJR 13(CRA): Supporting broadband deployment in the state; recognizing the benefits of broadband; urging facilitation of broadband deployment; urging engagement with stakeholders; urging the development of a temporary centralized, technology-neutral broadband and Internet access working group in the state; urging the United States Congress to include broadband in 2021 federal infrastructure legislation; urging broadband providers to use savings from federal infrastructure legislation to provide broadband service at a reduced rate to the state and its political subdivisions; and urging the Alaska delegation in Congress to advocate for flexible broadband funding parameters.
00 CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13(CRA) 01 Supporting broadband deployment in the state; recognizing the benefits of broadband; 02 urging facilitation of broadband deployment; urging engagement with stakeholders; 03 urging the development of a temporary centralized, technology-neutral broadband and 04 Internet access working group in the state; urging the United States Congress to include 05 broadband in 2021 federal infrastructure legislation; urging broadband providers to use 06 savings from federal infrastructure legislation to provide broadband service at a 07 reduced rate to the state and its political subdivisions; and urging the Alaska delegation 08 in Congress to advocate for flexible broadband funding parameters. 09 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 10 WHEREAS improving transportation, energy, and technological foundations in the 11 state is a key goal of, and is critical to, the state's comprehensive economic development 12 strategy; and 13 WHEREAS broadband has been an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic, 14 connecting families and communities, supporting healthcare, education, remote work, and
01 commerce; and 02 WHEREAS the Alaska Broadband Task Force plan, as updated in 2019, identifies 03 expanding broadband infrastructure as critical to meeting the ever-increasing demand for 04 bandwidth needed to support innovations in healthcare, education, remote work, and 05 commerce, among other parts of the economy; and 06 WHEREAS broadband will play a critical role in connecting and supporting Alaskans 07 through future challenges and crises, such as earthquakes and other natural disasters; and 08 WHEREAS broadband providers made more than $1,000,000,000 in capital 09 investments from 2017 to 2020 and continue to make capital investments to expand and 10 improve broadband in the state; and 11 WHEREAS the need for improved and expanded broadband far outpaces the state 12 government's ability to directly fund deployment; 13 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports widespread broadband 14 deployment in the state and urges the Governor's administration to support broadband 15 deployment through right-of-way access and by streamlining, consistent with state law, the 16 authorization and environmental permitting and review processes required for the 17 construction of broadband facilities; and be it 18 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Governor's 19 administration to ensure that no unnecessary or burdensome fees, such as increased permit or 20 right-of-way fees, consistent with state law, become barriers or roadblocks to broadband 21 deployment; and be it 22 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Governor's 23 administration to engage with and seek input from all stakeholders, including broadband 24 providers and consumers, in the state before making policy changes that affect broadband 25 providers or consumers; and be it 26 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Governor's 27 administration to create a temporary centralized, technology-neutral broadband and Internet 28 access working group to provide all Alaskans an equal seat at the table; and be it 29 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States 30 Congress to include broadband, the "information highway," in 2021 federal infrastructure 31 legislation, along with roads, bridges, ports, and other projects essential for a functional and
01 vibrant society; and be it 02 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges broadband providers 03 to use savings from federal infrastructure legislation that appropriates public funds for the 04 installation or improvement of privately owned broadband infrastructure to provide 05 broadband service at a reduced rate to the state and its political subdivisions; and be it 06 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Alaska 07 delegation in Congress to advocate for flexible broadband funding parameters given the 08 unique challenges in the state. 09 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, President 10 of the United States; the Honorable Charles Schumer, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the 11 Honorable Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Nancy 12 Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Kevin McCarthy, 13 Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Mike Dunleavy, 14 Governor of Alaska; the Honorable Amanda Holland, Acting Commissioner, Department of 15 Administration; the Honorable Julie Anderson, Commissioner, Department of Commerce, 16 Community, and Economic Development; the Honorable Nancy Dahlstrom, Commissioner, 17 Department of Corrections; the Honorable Dr. Michael Johnson, Commissioner, Department 18 of Education and Early Development; the Honorable Jason Brune, Commissioner, 19 Department of Environmental Conservation; the Honorable Doug Vincent-Lang, 20 Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game; the Honorable Adam Crum, Commissioner, 21 Department of Health and Social Services; the Honorable Dr. Tamika Ledbetter, 22 Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce Development; the Honorable Treg 23 Taylor, Alaska Attorney General; the Honorable Torrence Saxe, Adjutant General, 24 Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs; the Honorable Corri Feige, Commissioner, 25 Department of Natural Resources; the Honorable Leon Morgan, Commissioner, Department 26 of Public Safety; the Honorable Lucinda Mahoney, Commissioner, Department of Revenue; 27 the Honorable John MacKinnon, Commissioner, Department of Transportation and Public 28 Facilities; and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators, 29 and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in 30 Congress.