| 1 | 1 | | LRB-5978/1 |
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| 2 | 2 | | EHS:skw |
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| 3 | 3 | | 2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE |
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| 4 | 4 | | 2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 1180 |
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| 5 | 5 | | March 22, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives SHANKLAND, RATCLIFF, BARE, |
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| 6 | 6 | | EMERSON, JOERS, MOORE OMOKUNDE, SINICKI, STUBBS and PALMERI, |
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| 7 | 7 | | cosponsored by Senators SMITH, AGARD, L. JOHNSON, LARSON, ROYS and |
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| 8 | 8 | | SPREITZER. Referred to Committee on Government Accountability and |
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| 9 | 9 | | Oversight. |
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| 10 | 10 | | AN ACT to repeal 66.0422 (2) (c), 66.0422 (4) and 66.0422 (5); and to amend |
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| 11 | 11 | | 196.504 (1) (ac) 3. and 196.504 (2) (a) of the statutes; relating to: broadband |
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| 12 | 12 | | expansion grants for cities, villages, towns, and counties and |
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| 13 | 13 | | telecommunications-related construction projects of cities, villages, and towns. |
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| 14 | 14 | | Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau |
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| 15 | 15 | | This bill makes changes to the broadband expansion grant program that affect |
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| 16 | 16 | | cities, villages, towns, and counties (political subdivisions). Under current law, the |
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| 17 | 17 | | Public Service Commission administers the program and makes grants to eligible |
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| 18 | 18 | | applicants for constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved areas. The bill |
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| 19 | 19 | | allows a political subdivision to apply for a grant without submitting the application |
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| 20 | 20 | | in partnership with a telecommunications utility or a for-profit or not-for-profit |
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| 21 | 21 | | organization, which is required under current law. The bill also allows a political |
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| 22 | 22 | | subdivision to use a grant for the following purposes, in addition to constructing |
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| 23 | 23 | | broadband infrastructure: 1) planning related to broadband infrastructure |
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| 24 | 24 | | construction, including broadband feasibility reports; and 2) defraying no more than |
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| 25 | 25 | | 50 percent of the cost of hiring and employing one broadband director. |
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| 26 | 26 | | The bill also eliminates a requirement for a city, village, or town to prepare a |
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| 27 | 27 | | report before constructing or operating a facility for providing to the public |
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| 28 | 28 | | telecommunications service, cable television or similar video service, or broadband |
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| 29 | 29 | | service. With exceptions, current law requires a city, village, or town to hold a |
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| 30 | 30 | | hearing before enacting an ordinance or adopting a resolution authorizing it to |
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| 31 | 31 | | construct or operate such a facility. In addition, at least 30 days prior to the hearing, |
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| 35 | 35 | | 4 - 2 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5978/1 |
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| 36 | 36 | | EHS:skw |
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| 37 | 37 | | ASSEMBLY BILL 1180 |
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| 38 | 38 | | the city, village, or town must prepare and make available to the public a report that |
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| 39 | 39 | | estimates the total costs and revenues for the facility and includes a cost-benefit |
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| 40 | 40 | | analysis of the facility for a period of at least three years. Under the bill, a city, |
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| 41 | 41 | | village, or town is not required to prepare that report. |
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| 42 | 42 | | For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be |
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| 43 | 43 | | printed as an appendix to this bill. |
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| 44 | 44 | | The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do |
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| 45 | 45 | | enact as follows: |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 1. 66.0422 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed. |
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| 47 | 47 | | SECTION 2. 66.0422 (4) of the statutes is repealed. |
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| 48 | 48 | | SECTION 3. 66.0422 (5) of the statutes is repealed. |
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| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 4. 196.504 (1) (ac) 3. of the statutes is amended to read: |
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| 50 | 50 | | 196.504 (1) (ac) 3. A political subdivision that submits an application in |
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| 51 | 51 | | partnership with an eligible applicant under subd. 1. or 2. |
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| 52 | 52 | | SECTION 5. 196.504 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act 77, |
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| 53 | 53 | | is amended to read: |
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| 54 | 54 | | 196.504 (2) (a) To make broadband expansion grants to eligible applicants for |
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| 55 | 55 | | the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure in unserved areas designated |
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| 56 | 56 | | under par. (e) and to political subdivisions for project planning related to such |
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| 57 | 57 | | construction, including broadband feasibility reports, or for defraying no more than |
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| 58 | 58 | | 50 percent of the cost of hiring and employing one broadband director. Grants |
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| 59 | 59 | | awarded under this section shall be paid from the appropriations under ss. 20.155 |
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| 60 | 60 | | (3) (r) and (rm) and 20.866 (2) (z), in the amount allocated under s. 20.866 (2) (z) 5. |
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| 61 | 61 | | (END) |
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