Sec. 10. (a) The office shall adopt guidelines to implement this chapter, including guidelines governing the following:

(1) The form and content of requests to provide eligible broadband service in connection with an eligible broadband project.

Terms Used In Indiana Code 4-4-38.5-10

  • eligible broadband project: means a project for the deployment of terrestrial broadband infrastructure for the provision of eligible broadband service, regardless of the delivery technology:

    Indiana Code 4-4-38.5-2

  • eligible broadband service: means a connection to the Internet that provides an actual speed of at least:

    Indiana Code 4-4-38.5-3

  • eligible broadband service provider: means any company, firm, corporation, partnership, or association that:

    Indiana Code 4-4-38.5-4

  • office: refers to the office of community and rural affairs established by Indiana Code 4-4-38.5-6
  • Population: has the meaning set forth in Ind. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(2) The form and content of applications for grants under this chapter.

(3) A competitive bidding process or a process for requests for proposals for eligible broadband projects.

(4) Standards for determining whether a broadband service provider has demonstrated:

(A) financial;

(B) technical; and

(C) operational;

capability in building and operating a broadband network, as necessary to qualify as an eligible broadband service provider for purposes of this chapter.

(5) Standards establishing population parameters or another appropriate metric for defining a community that qualifies as a small municipality for purposes of section 7(2) of this chapter.

(6) Standards for determining the types and categories of expenses that are:

(A) directly related to an eligible broadband project; and

(B) eligible to receive funding under this chapter.

(7) Standards for assigning weight to the funding priorities set forth in section 9(e) of this chapter.

     (b) In adopting the guidelines described in subsection (a) or in otherwise administering this chapter, the office may collaborate with other state agencies or with political subdivisions of the state.

As added by P.L.189-2019, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.89-2021, SEC.7.