(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) Generally, local entities do not budget for or have funds available for broadband due-diligence business studies in connection with making application for federal grants or loans for broadband development programs;(2) In order to spur further development of broadband in rural Arkansas, it is necessary for local entities to conduct due-diligence business studies before applying for federal grants or loans for broadband development programs;(3) Expenses associated with broadband due-diligence business studies can be burdensome to rural Arkansas communities, and it is in the best interest of all Arkansans to make an investment to develop broadband in rural areas;(4) Under current Arkansas law, only certain eligible telecommunications carriers have benefited from the Arkansas High Cost Fund under § 23-17-404, which underwrites broadband deployment; and(5) It is necessary to provide funds to local entities to further widespread broadband deployment, particularly in unserved and underserved rural Arkansas, and to determine the feasibility of broadband deployment for local entities that currently do not have federally defined broadband services and articularly in unserved and underserved rural Arkansas, and to determine the feasibility of broadband deployment for local entities that currently do not have federally defined broadband services and where these broadband due-diligence business studies have not been conducted before.(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide funds to local entities to defray expenses for broadband due-diligence business studies in connection with preparations for federal grant and loan applications for broadband development programs administered by the Federal Communications Commission, the United States Department of Agriculture, or another federal agency to spur federally defined broadband development in rural Arkansas.Added by Act 2023, No. 875,§ 28, eff. 7/1/2023.
Arkansas Legal Code