(a)  There is hereby established a broadband advisory council for the purpose of performing the duties enunciated in § 42-163-5.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 42-163-4

  • Broadband: means "a high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies to deliver high-speed internet including both wireline and wireless technologies" and shall include, but not be limited to: goals for broadband elements such as speed, latency, affordability, access, sustainability, and digital equity. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-163-1
  • council: means the broadband advisory council established pursuant to the provisions of § 42-163-4. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-163-1
  • director: means the broadband coordinator designated pursuant to the provisions of § 42-163-2. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-163-1
  • Underserved: means a geographic location of the state in which there is no broadband internet service available at consistent speeds with the ability to scale upload speeds over time consistent with technology trends. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-163-1
  • Unserved: means a geographic location of the state in which there is no provider of broadband internet service that offers dedicated internet access for transmission at consistent speeds with the ability to scale upload speeds over time consistent with technology trends. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-163-1

(b)  The council shall consist of the following nine (9) members:

(1)  The broadband director from Commerce Rhode Island, who shall serve as the chair;

(2)  The Rhode Island emergency management agency director, or designee;

(3)  The Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns executive director, or designee;

(4)  The Boys and Girls Club president, or designee appointed by the senate president;

(5)  The Rhode Island infrastructure bank executive director, or designee;

(6)  A Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, appointed by the speaker of the house;

(7)  A telecommunications expert, appointed by the senate president;

(8)  A member of the underserved or unserved community appointed by the governor; and

(9)  A broadband or technology expert appointed by the speaker of the house.

(c)  Members of the council shall serve without compensation.

(d)  Vacancies shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment.

History of Section.
P.L. 2022, ch. 231, art. 9, § 15, effective June 27, 2022.