Oklahoma § 74-9204 - Oklahoma Broadband Office

§ 74-9204. Oklahoma Broadband Office

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

Broadband Office, to serve as the state’s sole administrator of the

functions, powers, and duties assigned to the Office in the Oklahoma

Broadband Expansion Act or under law. Effective June 30, 2028, the

Office shall terminate and all personnel positions shall be

abolished. The Office shall utilize the year prior to the

termination date for the purpose of ceasing the Office’s affairs.

B. The Office shall receive administrative assistance from the

Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), which shall

provide, through existing OMES resources, administrative assistance

upon request in writing or electronic correspondence from the

Office’s Executive Director. OMES shall provide assistance in the

manner requested within thirty (30) days of determination by the

Agency that the request is able to be fulfilled. If for any reason

the request cannot be fulfilled within thirty (30) days, the Office

and OMES shall enter into a written agreement expressing an agreed

upon timeline for fulfilling the needs of the Office. In the event

that the request cannot be fulfilled, OMES shall respond in writing

within ten (10) days of the request providing the reasoning for

denial. If the request cannot be fulfilled utilizing existing

resources, OMES may charge the Office for the actual cost to fulfill

the request.

C. The Office shall be governed by the Broadband Governing

Board, created pursuant to Section 9202 of this title.

D. The Office shall be advised by the Broadband Expansion

Council, created pursuant to Section 9203 of this title.

E. The Office shall have an Executive Director who shall

oversee the operations of the Office including, but not limited to:

1. Overseeing the creation, maintenance, and completion of the

Statewide Broadband Plan;

2. Communicating the state’s progress in achieving the goals

and implementation of the Statewide Broadband Plan;

3. The creation, housing, and updating of a statewide broadband

services map;

4. Overseeing of grant applications and awards for connectivity

and affordability projects;

5. Making recommendations to the Board regarding procedural and

administrative rules for the Office; and

6. Employment and management of Office staff subject to the

limitations and requirements of the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Act

and subject to the limitations and requirements of the Broadband

Governing Board.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government

F. The Executive Director shall regularly report to the Council

and the Board and shall submit an annual report to the Office of the

Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Office of the

President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

G. The Office may hire legal counsel as it is deemed necessary

by the hiring entity. The Office shall be subject to the provisions

of Section 20i of this title.

Added by Laws 2022, c. 229, § 5, emerg. eff. May 6, 2022. Amended

by Laws 2023, c. 336, § 1, emerg. eff. June 6, 2023.