Oklahoma § 74-9203 - Broadband Expansion Council

§ 74-9203. Broadband Expansion Council

A. There is hereby created, until June 30, 2028, the Broadband

Expansion Council. Effective June 30, 2028, the Council shall

terminate. The Council shall utilize the year prior to the

termination date for the purpose of ceasing the Council's affairs.

B. The Council shall consist of fourteen (14) persons to be

selected as follows:

1. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor, one of

whom shall be the individual serving as the Executive Director of

the Oklahoma Broadband Office, one of whom shall be a current or

past mayor of a municipality having a population of less than

thirty-five thousand (35,000) persons according to the latest

Federal Decennial Census or most recent population estimate and

which is not part of either the Oklahoma City or Tulsa Metropolitan

Statistical Areas, and one of whom shall be a resident of this state

and a wireless Internet service provider (WISP);

2. Five members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the

Oklahoma House of Representatives, one of whom shall represent the

interests of rural Internet service providers, one of whom shall be

a private sector technology professional with expertise in broadband

connectivity, access, price and related economic factors, one of

whom shall represent the interests of rural health care, one of whom

shall be a representative of a wireless telecommunications provider

not affiliated with an incumbent local exchange carrier in Oklahoma

and one who shall be a representative of a wireless

telecommunications provider with operations in Oklahoma and at least

twenty-four other states;

3. Five members shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore

of the Oklahoma State Senate, one of whom shall be a professional

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government

having academic expertise in large-scale information technology

infrastructure with emphasis on rural broadband access, one of whom

shall represent the interests of rural business enterprises, one of

whom shall be a citizen from a community of less than fifty thousand

(50,000) persons which is not part of either the Oklahoma City or

Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Areas, one of whom shall be a rural

electric cooperative representative and one who shall be an Oklahoma

resident and Tribal Leader of a tribe recognized in this state; and

4. One nonvoting member to be selected by the Oklahoma

Corporation Commission who has expertise in administration of the

Universal Service Fund, but who is not an elected member of the

Commission.

C. A quorum of the membership of the Council shall be necessary

in order to take any final action pursuant to the provisions of this

act.

D. The Council shall be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting

Act and the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

E. The Council shall serve as the advisory board to the

Oklahoma Broadband Office.

F. The Council shall advise the Office in developing and

continually monitoring the Office's Plan related to:

1. Identifying geographic areas to be utilized in developing

the Office's policies for establishing or improving broadband access

in the state pursuant to the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Act;

2. Assessing the financial viability of broadband service

providers so that a broadband network is adequately supported in its

operations, that needed repairs and upgrades can be undertaken on a

timely basis and that the goal of having a quality long-term

broadband service delivery system across the state is achieved and

maintained;

3. Maintaining the viability of the Oklahoma Universal Service

Fund and give consideration to whether similar universal funds

should be implemented in order to facilitate broadband expansion and

operational costs for underserved areas; and

4. Preventing duplication of facilities and investment when the

Office makes grant recommendations. With the input of the Council,

the Oklahoma Broadband Office shall establish objective standards in

order to determine whether the construction of broadband access

constitutes duplication of facilities and investment and also the

role of any recommended incentives that would benefit entities in

the private sector so that public resources are effectively utilized

and that duplication of efforts is avoided.

G. The Council shall receive administrative support from the

Oklahoma Broadband Office.

Added by Laws 2020, c. 165, § 3, emerg. eff. May 22, 2020. Amended

by Laws 2020, c. 167, § 1, emerg. eff. May 22, 2020; Laws 2021, c.

302, § 1, emerg. eff. April 27, 2021; Laws 2021, c. 548, § 2, emerg.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government

eff. May 28, 2021; Laws 2022, c. 229, § 4, emerg. eff. May 6, 2022.

Renumbered from § 139.202 of Title 17 by Laws 2022, c. 229, § 13,

emerg. eff. May 6, 2022.