Louisiana 2020 2020 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HCR78 Engrossed / Bill

                    HLS 20RS-1587	REENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 78
BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHEXNAYDER, GAROFALO, ADAMS, AMEDEE,
BACALA, BEAULLIEU, BRYANT, BUTLER, CARRIER, GARY CARTER,
ROBBY CARTER, CORMIER, COX, CREWS, DAVIS, DESHOTEL, ECHOLS,
EDMONDS, FIRMENT, FREIBERG, FRIEMAN, GADBERRY, GAINES,
GOUDEAU, HARRIS, HODGES, HORTON, HUGHES, ILLG, JEFFERSON,
JENKINS, MIKE JOHNSON, TRAVIS JOHNSON, JONES, JORDAN, KERNER,
LACOMBE, LANDRY, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MACK, MARCELLE, MARINO,
MCCORMICK, MCFARLAND, MCKNIGHT, MCMAHEN, MIGUEZ, DUSTIN
MILLER, GREGORY MILLER, MINCEY, MOORE, CHARLES OWEN,
PRESSLY, RISER, ROMERO, SCHAMERHORN, SELDERS, ST. BLANC,
STAGNI, THOMAS, THOMPSON, WHEAT, WHITE, WILLARD, AND WRIGHT
COMMERCE:  Provides relative to Louisiana broadband maps to identify access and
activation gaps
1	A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission to create and
3 provide broadband maps, in cooperation and coordination with the Federal
4 Communications Commission's efforts, to identify access and activation gaps in
5 Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, in the modern economy, rural broadband is a lifeline to quality of life
7and economic opportunity; and
8 WHEREAS, while broadband high-speed internet service is abundantly available in
9Louisiana cities, it is woefully absent in the rural areas of the state; and
10 WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, eighty
11percent of the twenty-four million American households who lack reliable and affordable
12high-speed internet are in rural areas; and
13 WHEREAS, the federal government, though the United States Department of
14Agriculture, is currently making investments in broadband infrastructures to help transform
15rural America, providing innovation and technology to increase economic competitiveness
16and opportunities; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 20RS-1587	REENGROSSED
HCR NO. 78
1 WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture currently provides loans
2and grants to increase high-speed internet access in rural areas; and
3 WHEREAS, a reliable and accurate mapping of current broadband access and
4activation gaps is critical to effectively utilizing these resources; and
5 WHEREAS, the currently available broadband maps have proven to be unreliable
6and inaccurate; and
7 WHEREAS, a local approach to mapping will provide better information for
8Louisiana residents and businesses to use in order to have access to broadband services.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
10urge and request the Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission within the office of
11the governor to create and provide broadband maps, in cooperation and coordination with
12the Federal Communications Commission's efforts, to identify access and activation gaps.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the broadband maps requested by this
14Resolution be submitted to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee
15on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs on or before January 1, 2021.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
17Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission within the office of the governor. 
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services.  It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument.  The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.  [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 78 Reengrossed 2020 Regular Session	Schexnayder
Requests the Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission to create and provide
broadband maps, in cooperation and coordination with the Federal Communications
Commission's efforts,  to identify access and activation gaps in Louisiana, and to submit the
maps to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Consumer Protection, and International Affairs on or before January 1, 2021.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Instruct the Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana Commission to work in
cooperation and coordination with the Federal Communications Commissions
efforts, when executing the directives of the Resolution.
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