LRB-3205/1
MDK:kjf:jf
2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
August 18, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Jorgensen, Hixson, Garthwaite,
Vruwink, Roys, Smith, Hilgenberg, Hraychuck, Berceau, Turner, Pocan,
Davis and Suder, cosponsored by Senators Kreitlow, Taylor, Holperin,
Jauch, Lassa, Hansen, Harsdorf and Lehman. Referred to Committee on
Renewable Energy and Rural Affairs.
AB391,1,2
1An Act to create 196.025 (7) of the statutes;
relating to: deployment of
2high-speed Internet services.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to contract with a
nonprofit organization to create a statewide inventory of high-speed Internet and
other relevant telecommunications and information technology services that is
consistent with any data reporting required under federal law. The PSC is allowed
to contract with a nonprofit organization only if the PSC determines that the
nonprofit organization has an established competency in working with public and
private sectors to accomplish wide-scale deployment and adoption of
telecommunications and information technology. The inventory that is created must
identify geographic gaps in high-speed Internet service and provide a baseline
assessment of statewide high-speed Internet deployment in terms of percentage of
households with high-speed Internet availability. The bill also requires the
nonprofit organization to update the inventory every six months.
In addition, the contract entered into by the PSC must require the nonprofit
organization to do the following: 1) track statewide residential and business
adoption of high-speed Internet services, computers, and related information
technology, identify barriers to such adoption, and annually measure progress
regarding such adoption; 2) create and facilitate local technology planning teams in
counties or other regions to measure technology use, set goals for improving
technology use, and develop business plans for achieving the goals; 3) collaborate
with high-speed Internet providers and technology companies to encourage
deployment and use of high-speed Internet services, especially in underserved
areas; and 4) establish programs to improve computer ownership and Internet access
for disenfranchised populations. The bill also requires the nonprofit organization to
obtain the input of specified governmental and nongovernmental entities in carrying
out the foregoing duties.
The bill allows the nonprofit organization to require nongovernmental entities
to submit information that is relevant to the foregoing duties, but only to the extent
and in the format that the data is maintained in the normal course of business. If
a nongovernmental entity provides information that the nongovernmental entity
designates as confidential or proprietary, the nonprofit organization must enter into
a nondisclosure agreement with the nongovernmental entity regarding the
designated information. Also, the designated information is not subject to disclosure
under the state open records law.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB391, s. 1
1Section
1. 196.025 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
AB391,2,52
196.025
(7) High-speed Internet deployment. (a)
Definition. In this
3subsection, "nonprofit organization" means an organization described in section
501 4(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code which is exempt from federal income tax under
5section
501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
AB391,2,116
(b)
Contract. The commission shall contract with a nonprofit organization to
7accomplish the objectives specified in par. (c). The commission may contract with an
8organization only if the commission determines that the organization has an
9established competency in working with public and private sectors to accomplish
10wide-scale deployment and adoption of telecommunications and information
11technology.
AB391,2,1312
(c)
Objectives. A contract under par. (b) shall require a nonprofit organization
13to do all of the following:
AB391,3,8
11. Create a geographic statewide inventory of high-speed Internet and other
2relevant telecommunications and information technology services that is consistent
3with any data reporting required under federal law. The inventory shall identify
4geographic gaps in high-speed Internet service through a method of geographic
5information system mapping of service availability and geographic information
6system analysis at the census block level and shall provide a baseline assessment of
7statewide high-speed Internet deployment in terms of percentage of households
8with high-speed Internet availability.
AB391,3,99
2. Update the inventory required under subd. 1. every 6 months.
AB391,3,1310
3. Track statewide residential and business adoption of high-speed Internet
11services, computers, and related information technology, through data collected
12directly from end users through telephone surveys or similar methods, identify
13barriers to such adoption, and annually measure progress regarding such adoption.
AB391,3,2214
4. Create and facilitate in each county or other designated region a local
15technology planning team with members representing a cross section of the
16community, including representatives of businesses, telecommunications unions,
17primary and secondary education, health care, libraries, higher education,
18community-based organizations, local government, tourism, parks and recreation,
19and agriculture. Each team shall measure technology use across relevant
20community sectors, set goals for improving technology use within each sector, and
21develop a tactical business plan for achieving the goals with specific
22recommendations for on-line application development and demand creation.
AB391,4,223
5. Collaborate with high-speed Internet providers and technology companies
24across the state to encourage deployment and use of high-speed Internet services,
25especially in underserved areas, through the use of local demand aggregation,
1mapping analysis, and the creation of market intelligence to encourage providers to
2deploy high-speed Internet services.
AB391,4,43
6. Establish programs to improve computer ownership and Internet access for
4disenfranchised populations across the state.
AB391,4,65
7. Obtain the input of each of the following in carrying out the objectives
6specified in this paragraph:
AB391,4,97
a. State and local government agencies representing economic development,
8local community development, technology planning, education, health care, and
9other relevant interests.
AB391,4,1210
b. High-speed Internet service providers, telecommunications providers,
11technology companies, telecommunications unions, community-based
12organizations, and relevant private sector entities.
AB391,4,2113
(d)
Submission of information. A nonprofit organization with whom the
14commission contracts under par. (b) may require nongovernmental entities to submit
15information that is relevant to the objectives specified in par. (c) only to the extent
16and in the format that the data is maintained in the normal course of business. If
17a nongovernmental entity provides information to the nonprofit organization that
18the nongovernmental entity designates as confidential or proprietary, the nonprofit
19organization shall enter into a nondisclosure agreement with the nongovernmental
20entity regarding the designated information and the designated information is not
21subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35.
