SB412 (2008) Detail

Establishing the office of technology development and telecommunications planning and the position of director of telecommunications in the department of resources and economic development.


SB 412 – AS INTRODUCED

2008 SESSION

08-2746

06/09

SENATE BILL 412

AN ACT establishing the office of technology development and telecommunications planning and the position of director of telecommunications in the department of resources and economic development.

SPONSORS: Sen. Reynolds, Dist 2; Sen. Burling, Dist 5

COMMITTEE: Energy, Environment and Economic Development

ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Establishes the office of technology development and telecommunications planning.

II. Establishes the position of director of telecommunications.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08-2746

06/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

AN ACT establishing the office of technology development and telecommunications planning and the position of director of telecommunications in the department of resources and economic development.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Division of Economic Development; Office Established; Classified Position Established. Amend RSA 12-A by inserting after section 59 the following new section:

12-A:60 Director of Telecommunications Office of Technology Development and Telecommunications Planning and Position Established. There is established within the division of economic development the office of technology development and telecommunication planning and the position of director of telecommunications which shall be an administrator II position, classified at labor grade 29. The director shall:

I. Coordinate state telecommunications policy planning initiatives by serving as a member of the telecommunications planning and development advisory committee established in RSA 12-A:46, maintaining a state telecommunications resource website, and working with regional partners from the private and public sector to coordinate efforts to provide increased interoperable advanced telecommunications systems throughout the state with the goal of providing affordable and accessible broadband to residents of this state.

II. Encourage and facilitate collaboration between public and private research and development efforts in New Hampshire relative to technology development and telecommunications planning.

III. Develop a high technology development plan for the state and coordinate with partners throughout the state to implement and regularly update the plan.

IV. Act as an agent in recruiting and retaining high technology companies in New Hampshire.

V. Serve as a resource for state policy makers to develop policies geared towards increasing and expanding high technology jobs and promoting development of a high technology workforce.

VI. Seek resources such as grants from government and nonprofit entities to promote the state’s technology development and telecommunications planning initiatives.

2 Position Established; Assessment on Regulated Telecommunications Utilities. The public utilities commission shall assess from regulated telecommunications utilities the sums of $100,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and $100,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, for the purpose of funding the department of resources and economic development office of technology development and telecommunications planning and the administrator II position established under RSA 12-A:60. The assessment shall be calculated by using the gross utility revenue of all regulated telecommunications utilities and allocating the expense to each utility in direct proportion as the revenues relate to the total utility revenues as a whole. Each such expense allocation shall be assessed against each regulated telecommunication utility in an amount equal to its proportionate share. The minimum fee shall be assessed to utilities having minimal revenues in such proportion as the public utilities commission shall determine to be fair and equitable.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.