2006 Nebraska Revised Statutes - § 86-599 — Broadband Services Task Force; created; members; duties.

Section 86-599
Broadband Services Task Force; created; members; duties.

(1) The Broadband Services Task Force is created. The members shall be appointed as follows:

(a) Three members appointed by the Executive Board of the Legislative Council;

(b) Six members appointed by the Governor, of whom one member shall be appointed from each congressional district and shall represent consumers and three members shall be appointed on an at-large basis;

(c) Three members of the Public Service Commission;

(d) Three members of the Nebraska Power Review Board or their designees; and

(e) Three members of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission or their designees.

(2) Appointments under this section shall be completed within thirty days after September 4, 2005, and reported to the Executive Board of the Legislative Council. The chairperson of the executive board shall convene the first meeting of the task force within forty-five days after the appointments are reported, and the task force shall select a chairperson at such time.

(3) On behalf of the task force, the Executive Board of the Legislative Council shall, in consultation with the task force, contract for the services of a meeting facilitator and such other assistance as the executive board, in consultation with the task force, deems necessary within the limits of the funds appropriated. In making its selection of a meeting facilitator, the executive board shall consider experience in the areas of telecommunications and public power.

(4) Issues to be studied by the task force shall include, but are not limited to:

(a) The implications upon competition of agencies or political subdivisions of the state or public power suppliers offering infrastructure access for broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, and video services and private sector investment in networks for the provision of such services;

(b) The need and necessity for the provision of wholesale broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, or video services by agencies or political subdivisions of the state and public power suppliers;

(c) Issues regarding the establishment of fair and equitable requirements for the regulation and taxation of the provision of wholesale broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, and video services by agencies or political subdivisions of the state and public power suppliers;

(d) An assessment of the extent and availability of public power infrastructure in the state and an evaluation of how such infrastructure could be utilized to enhance the provision of broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, and video services to consumers and businesses and the feasibility of using such technology in all regions of the state;

(e) A determination of how parity could be established for competing interests in the provision of broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, and video services, including, but not limited to, the amount of property taxes paid, income taxes, in lieu of tax payments paid, gross receipts taxes, sales taxes paid, tax credits and funds provided under current federal and state laws, and financing capabilities, including shareholder equity;

(f) An evaluation of the statutory and regulatory frameworks of other states' publicly owned utilities as they relate to providing broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, and video services; and

(g) An analysis of the geographic areas in which broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, and video services are being offered in the state, the degree of regulation and competition with respect to each such service within such geographic areas, and the implications of permitting agencies, political subdivisions, and public power suppliers to provide such services on the geographic reach of such services and the degree of competition in such geographic areas.

(5) The task force shall study the issues described in subsection (4) of this section, identify options for the resolution of such issues, and make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor relating to any policy changes the task force deems desirable. The task force shall complete its work by December 1, 2006, and submit its report to the Legislature, the Governor, the Natural Resources Committee of the Legislature, and the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee of the Legislature by such date.

(6) This section terminates on December 1, 2006.

Source:

Laws 2005, LB 645, § 7

Termination date December 1, 2006

~Revised Statutes Supplement, 2006