LOC News
Legislative Alert - Cities Asked to Submit Testimony Supporting Broadband Bill
One of the LOC’s priority bills, HB 4079, the Rural Telecommunications Investment Act, is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, February 4 in House Revenue Committee at 5:30 p.m. In advance of the hearing, cities are asked to submit written testimony supporting HB 4079 to lro.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov.
HB 4079 is a rerun of HB 2184 from the 2019 session and was one of two priority broadband bills. HB 2173, which passed, created the State Broadband Office within Business Oregon. HB 2184 would have created a broadband grant program.
HB 4079 will help close that divide. The bill would expand the Oregon Universal Service Fund (OUSF) to include cell phone users in the fee pool, generating additional funds to establish a sustainably funded broadband grant program to plan for and build broadband infrastructure in smaller and rural communities. The OUSF was established in 1999 and has never included cell phone users. Cell phones currently dominate the provision of telecommunications services, but unlike landlines, have not been required to share in the fiscal responsibility for infrastructure that ultimately benefits their industry.
The LOC has provided sample testimony for its members.
Contact: Jenna Jones, Legislative Analyst – jjones@orcities.org
Last Updated 1-31-20