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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
HOUSE BILL 3175 By: Phillips
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to technology; creating a new title;
enacting the Oklahoma Low Income Broadband Assistance
Program Act; defining terms; directing the State
Broadband Coordinator 's Office to establish an
Oklahoma Low Income Broadband Assistance Program ;
directing the State Broadband Coordinator 's Office to
coordinate with local administrative agencies to
determine eligibility; setting income limitations;
directing for payment of monthly credit; ex cluding
eligibility for those enrolled i n other programs;
creating bill payment requirements; authorizing State
Broadband Coordinator 's Office to adopt rules;
providing for noncodification; providing for
codification; and providing an effective date .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as foll ows:
In publishing the decennial Oklahoma Statutes , and the
cumulative supplements after July 1, 2022, West Publishing Company
shall include in such decennial statutes a nd supplements a new Title
75A, to be designated "Technology".
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SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1001 of Title 75A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Low
Income Broadband Assistance Program Act".
SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1002 of Title 75A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
As used in this act:
1. "Broadband service" means a high speed service connection to
the public Internet capable of supporting, in at least one
direction, a speed in excess of 200 kilobits per second ( Kbps) to
the network demarcation poi nt at the subscriber 's premises;
2. "Office" means the State Broadband Coordinator 's Office;
3. "Economic unit" means all adult individuals contributing to
and sharing in the income and expenses of a household ;
4. "Family" or "household" means any individual or group of
individuals who live tog ether at the same address as one economic
unit; and
5. "Federal poverty level " means the poverty guidelines updated
periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services. These guidelines set poverty levels by
family size.
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SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1003 of Title 75A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The State Broadband Coordinator 's Office shall establish an
Oklahoma Low Income Broadband Assistance Program to ensure the
availability and affordability of broadband service to low -income
families. The Office shall coordinate with local administrative
agencies to determine eligibility for the Program ; provided that
eligible income shall be no more than one hundred fifty percent
(150%) of the federal poverty level .
SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1004 of Title 75A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbe ring, reads as follows:
A. Families whose annual household income is at or below one
hundred thirty-five percent (135%) of the federal poverty level
shall be eligible for free broadband service.
B. A credit of at least Nine Dollars and ninety-five cents
($9.95) a month for broadband services shall be payable monthly to:
1. Families whose annual household income is above one hundred
thirty-five percent (135%) of the federal poverty level but no
greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the federal poverty
level; and
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2. Families that include at least one adult person or dependent
child who qualifies for or received benefits under one of the
following programs:
a. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ,
b. Supplemental Security Income program ,
c. Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits Programs,
d. Federal Public Housing Assistance Program ,
e. Tribal Programs for Native Americans, or
f. National School Lunch Program.
Credit amounts provided under this subsection may be adjusted
according to family size as prescribed by the State Broadband
Coordinator's Office.
C. Families who receive a discount for broadband service under
the federal Lifeline program or any other state Internet service
subsidy program shall n ot be eligible to participate in the Oklahoma
Low Income Broadband Assistance Program if they elect to remain
enrolled in the aforementioned programs .
SECTION 6. NEW LAW A n ew section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes a s Section 1005 of Title 75A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
To be eligible for free broadband service or a monthly credit
for broadband service under this act, an applicant must provide
proof of eligibility in the for m and manner prescribed by the State
Broadband Coordinator 's Office.
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SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1006 of Title 75A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, r eads as follows:
A. For each family enrolled in the Oklahoma Low Income
Broadband Assistance Program, the State Broadband Coordinator 's
Office shall remit, through the local administrative agencies, to
the broadband service provider that portion of the fa mily's bill
that is not the responsibility of the family. For purposes of this
section, payment is due on the date specified on the family 's bill.
The Office, Oklahoma Tax Commission, and local administrative
agencies shall adopt processes that provide f or the timely payment
required by this section.
B. Each family that receives a credit for broadband service
under subsection B of Section 5 of this act is responsible for all
actual charges for broadband service in excess of the credit
provided under subsection B of Section 5 of this act. The Office
may terminate a program participant 's eligibility for the credit
available under subsection B of Section 5 of this act upon
notification by the broadband serv ice provider that the
participant's monthly service payment is more than forty-five (45)
days past due.
SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1007 of Title 75A, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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The State Broadband Coordinator's Office may adopt any rules
necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
SECTION 9. This act shall become effective November 1, 2022.
58-2-8948 MJ 01/12/22