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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION |
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| INTRODUCED BY FOLMER, RAFFERTY, ERICKSON, ALLOWAY, D. WHITE AND M. WHITE, JANUARY 12, 2011 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, JANUARY 12, 2011 |
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| A RESOLUTION |
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1 | Urging the President of the United States and the Governor to |
2 | institute a broadband mobilization strategy to manage funds |
3 | from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. |
4 | WHEREAS, With the passage of the American Recovery and |
5 | Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5, 123 Stat. 115), many |
6 | states are coordinating large, cross-agency, statewide |
7 | strategies to enhance their American Recovery and Reinvestment |
8 | Act of 2009 funding opportunities in order to maximize broadband |
9 | deployment strategies; and |
10 | WHEREAS, Because the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act |
11 | of 2009 will be competitive, the Commonwealth must put forth a |
12 | broad strategy that leverages and combines American Recovery and |
13 | Reinvestment Act of 2009 opportunities and all other available |
14 | economic resources to promote sound economic development for the |
15 | deployment of broadband access; and |
16 | WHEREAS, To best maximize this Commonwealth's share of |
17 | American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds, the |
18 | strategy must be transparent and nonpartisan as it leverages all |
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1 | opportunities with existing Federal, State, local and corporate |
2 | resources; and |
3 | WHEREAS, The strategy should follow the following principles: |
4 | (1) Provide broadband leadership at the State level, |
5 | through a decentralized system that promotes Pennsylvania as |
6 | a whole, much like the highly publicized California Broadband |
7 | Initiative which is seeking $1,000,000,000 of the |
8 | $7,200,000,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 |
9 | funds. |
10 | (2) Leverage existing public and private infrastructure. |
11 | (3) Develop competitive bid processes. |
12 | (4) Address public safety improvements through broadband |
13 | deployment. |
14 | (5) Provide appropriate incentives for investment in |
15 | underserved and unserved regions. |
16 | (6) Link with proven existing programs and stimulating |
17 | demand through anchor tenants, schools, hospitals and other |
18 | community anchors. |
19 | (7) Focus on the final leg of delivering services to a |
20 | customer ("last mile") for connecting residential broadband |
21 | customers. |
22 | (8) Update broadband mapping that is delivered |
23 | immediately after collection ("real-time data") and insisting |
24 | on data transparency. |
25 | (9) Establish meaningful reports and accountability for |
26 | all projects. |
27 | (10) Invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure. |
28 | (11) Ensure that all projects receiving stimulus money |
29 | have proven, identified sustainability plans after the |
30 | stimulus money is used; |
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1 | therefore be it |
2 | RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania urge the President |
3 | of the United States and the Governor to work in conjunction |
4 | with the General Assembly to institute a broadband mobilization |
5 | strategy to manage funds from the American Recovery and |
6 | Reinvestment Act of 2009; and be it further |
7 | RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to |
8 | the President of the United States and the Governor of the |
9 | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. |
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