BACKGROUND

S.F. No. 2056 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2015, to an account administered by the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development for use in making loans and grants to public and private entities to fund broadband infrastructure investments in areas of the state not well served by broadband.

Section 1 is a series of definitions.

Section 2 creates the “border-to-border” broadband development grant and loan program administered by the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development.

Subdivision 3 provides that eligible applicants include a variety of private, public, nonprofit, and tribal entities.

Subdivision 4 creates an application process to be administered by the commissioner. 

Subdivision 5 establishes criteria to be used when evaluating applications for grants and loans.

Section 3 creates an account in the state treasury to hold funds appropriated for the programs.

Section 4 is a $100,000,000 general fund appropriation in fiscal year 2015 for the program.

JCF/syl