SCS/SB 184 - This act creates the Electrical Corporation Broadband Authorization Act, which allows broadband services providers, as defined in the act, to utilize certain electrical corporation broadband infrastructure to provide broadband services, as such term is defined in the act. The act modifies the definition of "electric plant" to include broadband infrastructure operated, controlled, owned, used or to be used for or in connection with or to facilitate the provision of electric service, broadband operations, or broadband service. The act also creates several definitions relating to broadband.
An electrical corporation shall not provide broadband services to end-use customers.
As described in the act, an electrical corporation's investment in such broadband infrastructure shall be included in the electrical corporation's rate base used to set the revenue requirement upon which the electrical corporation's base rates are set.
The Public Service Commission shall not have jurisdiction over the terms, conditions, charges, contracts, leases, licenses, or other agreements of an electrical corporation for the corporation's broadband operations or provision of broadband services through a broadband services provider. The rates and charges that an electrical corporation assess upon a broadband services provider shall be standardized for all such providers.
Finally, the act allows an electrical corporation to condemn land for the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure.
This act is similar to HB 321 (2021), SB 921 (2020), and HB 2302 (2020).
JAMIE ANDREWS