NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (Sections 67.453 & 67.1461):

This act modifies the powers of neighborhood improvement districts and community improvement districts to include the ability to partner with telecommunications companies and broadband service providers in order to construct or improve telecommunications facilities.

This provision is similar to SB 807 (2020) and SB 773 (2020).

LINEAR FOOT FEES (Section 67.1846):

A grandfathered political subdivision shall not charge a linear foot fee for use of its right-of-way to a small local exchange telecommunications company as of December 31, 2019, provided that the small local exchange telecommunications company is providing internet access to customers within rural areas of the state.

UNIFORM SMALL WIRELESS FACILITY DEPLOYMENT ACT (Section 67.5122):

This act extends the sunset date for the Uniform Small Wireless Facility Deployment Act from January 1st, 2021, to January 1st, 2025.

OPERATING DESIGNATIONS OF CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES (Section 392.020):

Under the act, any corporation formed for the purpose of being a telephone or telegraph company or operating under the General and Business Corporation Law of Missouri, may amend the articles of association to include a statement referencing the corporation's operating designation as an exempt organization as described in the Internal Revenue Code.

This provision is identical to SCS/SB 852 (2020).

RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS FUNDING (Sections 620.2451-620.2459):

This act requires the Department of Economic Development to maintain a record of all federal grants awarded to entities for the purposes of providing, maintaining, and expanding rural broadband in the state. In cases in which federal funds have been awarded but later retained, withheld, or otherwise not distributed to the original grant recipient due to failure to meet performance standards or other criteria, the Department shall seek to have the funds awarded to another eligible, qualified Missouri broadband provider.

This provision is identical to HCS/HB 1162 (2019).

Under this act, a grant recipient of funds from the Missouri Broadband Grant Program shall return such funds if the grant recipient fails to establish retail broadband internet speeds of at least 25Mb per second download and 3Mb per second upload.

This provision is identical to SB 865 (2020).

Currently, the broadband internet grant program for unserved and underserved areas of the state will expire on August 28, 2021. This act extends the program until June 30, 2027.

This provision is identical to SS/SB 632 (2020) and similar to HB 1859 (2020).

JAMIE ANDREWS