Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519
05/11/2023 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB55 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 55(FIN) | |
| HB193 | |
| HB89 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 41 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 193
"An Act relating to funding for Internet services for
school districts; and providing for an effective
date."
2:26:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BRYCE EDGMON, CO-CHAIR, HOUSE FINANCE
COMMITTEE, SPONSOR, reviewed that the bill that would allow
for improved internet services for schools qualifying for
the federal E-rate across the state. The E-rate program
flowed down through the federal Communication Commission
Universal Services Fund to the state broadband programs.
The federal matching rate for Alaska was $8 to $9 for every
state dollar put forward. He explained the program got its
start in Alaska with the state Broadband Assistance [Grant]
(BAG) program put into law in 2014 to implement a speed of
10 megabytes [megabits] per second. For context, he
referenced individuals in the Capitol Building who could
not access their internet recently. He had been told their
current speed was about 5 megabytes per second. He asked
members to imagine how slow 10 megabits would be. He
relayed that in 2020 the legislature upped the 10 megabits
per second threshold to 25 megabits per second. The bill
proposed to increase the number to 10 megabytes.
Co-Chair Edgmon asked committee members to keep in mind
that the committee heard a bill setting up the Alaska
Broadband Office, the advisory committee, and establishing
the framework in statute to open opportunities for a
massive amount of incoming federal money to provide high
speed, affordable, and equitable broadband services to all
user groups across the state. The current bill before the
committee addressed the numerous schools hampered by slow
internet without the ability to do videoconferencing,
standardized testing, basic emails and coursework. The bill
proposed to increase the threshold from 25 megabits per
second to 100 megabits per second. He was told there would
be a bill from the other body possibly coming to the
committee soon. The intent of the current hearing was to
explain the big picture to the committee.
2:30:47 PM
Representative Coulombe stated that she had chaired the
Department of Education and Early Development subcommittee
and it was obvious the upgrade needed to take place. She
noted schools were really struggling. She observed that a
backup document primarily showed GCI and ACS [as service
providers]. She asked if Starlink could be used with the
grants or if the BAG program was limited to certain
providers.
LAIB ALLENSWORTH, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BRYCE EDGMON,
replied that the contracts were individually bid upon by
school districts and districts were able to choose their
provider. He was not certain about Starlink's involvement
and whether it had the capacity to provide the level of
service provided for a school district.
Co-Chair Edgmon added that the program would provide the
flexibility to work with GCI or ACS and to ensure the 100
megabits per second threshold included download speeds (the
signal coming to the school) and upload speeds (the signal
leaving the school). He stated that perhaps in some cases
Starlink could provide the service, but there were other
instances where GCI and ACS would provide the service.
Representative Hannan was startled to learn the specific
download rate was set in statute. She reasoned that the
statute would need to be updated every couple of years
because no one decreased in speed needs. She recalled as a
teacher when there had been mandatory state testing
conducted online, but schools had been unable to plug their
students in on the same day or time. She supported and
believed faster internet and a grant program were needed.
She asked if there was a mechanism to avoid having to make
a statutory change every two to four years. She wondered if
the adjustment could be made via regulation and grants in
the budgetary process.
Co-Chair Edgmon replied that ideally there would be
fiberoptic cable available in the next several years in the
middle and final mile capacity to schools far and wide. He
remarked there was a fiscal note attached to the bill that
was eyepopping in number, but it was a number that built in
all of the schools qualifying for the program if they could
get infrastructure in place. He considered the current E-
rate program as a bridge program so that going into the
future there should not have to be numerous iterations of
the bill going forward. He thought it could be the case for
some small schools that could not take advantage of the
federal funding coming in through the federal
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
2:34:45 PM
Co-Chair Foster noted that Representative Stapp had joined
the meeting.
Representative Galvin stated the topic was relatively new
to her, although she was familiar with E-rate and its
importance to rural Alaska. She believed the legislation
referred to more than 20 school districts. She presumed
they were school districts that had historically used and
needed extra support for internet. She asked if her
statement was accurate.
Co-Chair Edgmon replied affirmatively. He explained that
much of the internet had been satellite driven or through
microwave transmission and perhaps fiberoptic in some
smaller instances for online school. He elaborated that
fiberoptic cable was finding its way down the Yukon-
Kuskokwim (YK) region in the next couple of years. He added
that Quintillion line was being laid around the state up
north and in Co-Chair Foster's region. He remarked that it
would be fiber optic driven and a lot of schools would be
able to enjoy the same amount of broadband that schools in
urban Alaska provide. He had been told recently that the
broadband used in the Capitol Building was several hundred
megabytes per second. The bill talked about getting a
school (e.g., Nome-Beltz High School with 500 plus
students) to maybe 100 megabytes. He stated there was still
a lot of catching up to do. He was optimistic because
hopefully in the future it would not be as funding source
challenged as it was in the past.
2:36:52 PM
Representative Galvin surmised the bill aimed to ensure the
minimum speed was met in the school districts and that
funding was available.
Co-Chair Edgmon answered, "To qualify through the E-rate
program." He added there may be other means that schools
used. He explained they were talking about a lot of schools
across the state. He relayed that his staff could provide
an exact number.
Representative Galvin underscored the importance of the
issue. She knew that many districts would like to
participate in opportunities for online learning, but after
signing up they did not have the bandwidth to make it
happen. She appreciated providing a bit more equity for all
of Alaska's students.
Co-Chair Foster noted Co-Chair Johnson had joined the
meeting.
Representative Cronk looked at the fiscal note and asked if
the installation of fiber optic would eliminate or decrease
the need for the funds in the note.
Co-Chair Edgmon answered that the number [in the fiscal
note] projected outward as if every school qualified for
the federal E-rate program and had the infrastructure to
participate in the delivery of service. He relayed that a
provider had cautioned earlier in the day that it would
take time. The number was at the ceiling of what could be
out there. In the meantime, fiber optic cable was going
through the Dillingham region and extended up through the
YK region and Bethel area. He remarked it would take some
of the schools off the list that would otherwise be
competing for the federal E-rate money.
2:39:01 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
He stressed the importance of the issue and hoped and
looked forward to an additional hearing perhaps of the
Senate bill.
HB 193 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
2:39:49 PM
AT EASE
2:42:45 PM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 89 Presentation v.3.pdf |
HFIN 5/11/2023 1:30:00 PM |
HB 89 |