Michigan § 484.3204 - Michigan broadband development authority; creation; duties.

The Michigan broadband development authority is created as a public body corporate and politic within the department of treasury.

The authority may do all of the following:

Assist through financing and refinancing the expansion of broadband infrastructure services to residential, commercial, public, and nonprofit customers in this state.

Authorize the issuance of bonds and notes to finance or refinance the private and public sectors' development of the broadband infrastructure.

Authorize the making of loans and joint venture and partnership arrangements subject to section 7(2) and (3) to broadband developers and broadband operators.

Authorize the imposition and collection of rents, charges, and fees for the services furnished by the broadband infrastructure in conjunction with financing entered into by the authority.

Enter into joint venture and partnership arrangements and partnerships subject to section 7(2) and (3) to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate the broadband infrastructure.

Assist broadband developers and operators with all other matters necessary for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of the broadband infrastructure.

Continuously evaluate all types of technologies in order to encourage the widest deployment of broadband services and broadband infrastructure in this state.

Make broadband services to schools and libraries a priority under authority financing programs.

Insure that the financing and refinancing of the development of broadband services under this act includes provisions that small businesses and that each region of this state have an equal opportunity to receive financing and refinancing.