00                      SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13                                                                    
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 United States Congress to include broadband in 2021 federal infrastructure                                   
04 legislation; and urging the Alaska delegation in Congress to advocate for flexible                                      
05 broadband funding parameters.                                                                                           
06 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
07       WHEREAS improving transportation, energy, and technological foundations in the                                  
08 state is a key goal of, and is critical to, the state's comprehensive economic development                              
09 strategy; and                                                                                                           
10       WHEREAS broadband has been an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic,                                   
11 connecting families and communities, supporting healthcare, education, remote work, and                                 
12 commerce; and                                                                                                           
13 WHEREAS the Alaska Broadband Task Force plan, as updated in 2019, identifies                                          
14 expanding broadband infrastructure as critical to meeting the ever-increasing demand for                                
15 bandwidth needed to support innovations in healthcare, education, remote work, and                                      

01 commerce, among other parts of the economy; and                                                                         
02       WHEREAS broadband will play a critical role in connecting and supporting Alaskans                               
03 through future challenges and crises, such as earthquakes and other natural disasters; and                              
04       WHEREAS broadband providers made more than $1,000,000,000 in capital                                            
05 investments from 2017 to 2020 and continue to make capital investments to expand and                                    
06 improve broadband in the state; and                                                                                     
07       WHEREAS the need for improved and expanded broadband far outpaces the state                                     
08 government's ability to directly fund deployment;                                                                       
09       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports widespread broadband                                  
10 deployment in the state and urges the Governor's administration to support broadband                                    
11 deployment through right-of-way access and by streamlining, consistent with state law, the                              
12 authorization and environmental permitting and review processes required for the                                        
13 construction of broadband facilities; and be it                                                                         
14 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Governor's                                               
15 administration to ensure that no unnecessary or burdensome fees, such as increased permit or                            
16 right-of-way fees, consistent with state law, become barriers or roadblocks to broadband                                
17 deployment; and be it                                                                                                   
18 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Governor's                                               
19 administration to engage with and seek input from broadband providers in the state before                               
20 making policy changes that affect broadband providers; and be it                                                        
21 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States                                            
22 Congress to include broadband, the "information highway," in 2021 federal infrastructure                                
23 legislation, along with roads, bridges, ports, and other projects essential for a functional and                        
24 vibrant society; and be it                                                                                              
25 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Alaska                                                   
26 delegation in Congress to advocate for flexible broadband funding parameters given the                                  
27 unique challenges in the state.                                                                                         
28 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, President                                   
29 of the United States; the Honorable Charles Schumer, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the                            
30 Honorable Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Nancy                                      
31 Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Kevin McCarthy,                                     

01 Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Mike Dunleavy,                                      
02 Governor of Alaska; the Honorable Amanda Holland, Acting Commissioner, Department of                                    
03 Administration; the Honorable Julie Anderson, Commissioner, Department of Commerce,                                     
04 Community, and Economic Development; the Honorable Nancy Dahlstrom, Commissioner,                                       
05 Department of Corrections; the Honorable Dr. Michael Johnson, Commissioner, Department                                  
06 of Education and Early Development; the Honorable Jason Brune, Commissioner,                                            
07 Department of Environmental Conservation; the Honorable Doug Vincent-Lang,                                              
08 Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game; the Honorable Adam Crum, Commissioner,                                       
09 Department of Health and Social Services; the Honorable Dr. Tamika Ledbetter,                                           
10 Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce Development; the Honorable Treg                                         
11 Taylor, Alaska Attorney General; the Honorable Torrence Saxe, Adjutant General,                                         
12 Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs; the Honorable Corri Feige, Commissioner,                                  
13 Department of Natural Resources; the Honorable Leon Morgan, Commissioner, Department                                    
14 of Public Safety; the Honorable Lucinda Mahoney, Commissioner, Department of Revenue;                                   
15 the Honorable John MacKinnon, Commissioner, Department of Transportation and Public                                     
16 Facilities; and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators,                             
17 and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in                                   
18 Congress.