West Virginia lawmakers are considering a bill that will allow for more oversight regarding state spending on broadband. The Weirton Daily Times reported that House Bill 4001 would create the Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Economic Development Accountability.
Under the bill, the commission would consist of 14 members from the House of Delegates and the state Senate from all committees dealing with infrastructure and economic development. The commission’s goal would be to provide oversight for all financial investments made by the Department of Economic Development, including millions of dollars in federal broadband funds. According to the bill’s sponsor, House Technology and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Daniel Linville, the committee would also be charged with keeping the lines of communication open between the executive and legislative branches.
The Daily Times reported that the state is poised to receive $138 million for broadband expansion from the American Rescue Plan and at least $100 million for broadband coverage from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In addition, West Virginia will receive $362.1 million in federal investments under the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (Phase I) plus monies from the Connect America Fund and loans through the Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“First and foremost, we want to make sure the dollars we’re deploying are done well,” Linville said.“House Bill 4001 is our next effort in further expanding broadband and enhancing the broadband that people currently have, as well as protecting the consumer. One of the things we’re doing from a funding standpoint is creating the buckets we can put money into. These can be unexpected costs, and we want to make sure they’re accounted for.”
HB 4001 aims to help with middle-mile broadband expansions, pole replacement and relocation, conduit installation, and right-of-way mapping, reported the Daily Times. The bill includes consumer protections as well. Telecommunications companies that offer internet service must apply for “eligible telecommunications carriers status” with the state’s Public Service Commission to prove compliance with the FCC’s Universal Service Fund.
“The bill seeks to hold providers accountable such that if they’re not going to keep their promises, they’ll no longer be able to participate in those programs both from a state and federal level,” Linville said. “If they lie to us after taking these grant dollars, this is essentially the provider death penalty.”
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