After a busy week, I’m trying to catch up with bills that related to broadband and the Internet. Below are links to what I found. Sometimes the connection is a little strained, but I figured I’d include the, I’ve organized the bills into a few categories. The big news is that -the House and Senate both suggested continued support for the Minnesota Broadband Fund (HF0556, HF0593 & SF0439). There is also funding suggested for libraries and schools.

I’ll try to keep up on the ones with the strongest connection to broadband adoption and deployment.

Broadband Funding:

House

• * HF0556 – Border-to-border broadband account funding provided, and money appropriated.
• * HF0593 – Broadband development grant program provided funding, and money appropriated.
• HF0583 – Regional library telecommunications aid and equity in telecommunications access funding provided, and money appropriated.
• HF0943 – Public television equipment grants provided, and money appropriated.

Senate

• * SF0439 – Border-to-border broadband account appropriation
• * SF0438 – Broadband operational support, program delivery, availability mapping and data collection appropriation
• SF0017  – Education department (MDE) equity in telecommunications access appropriation
• SF0018  – Special technology revenue creation and levy authorization
• SF0020  – School endowment fund school technology and telecommunications reserve dedication
• SF0078  – Education telecommunications access equity aid appropriations
• SF0394  – Assistive technology grant establishment and appropriation
• SF0437  – Telecommunications aid to libraries and schools appropriation
• SF0920  – State academies for the deaf and blind for technology enhancements appropriation

Provider Regulation or Taxing

House

• HF0776 – Voice-over-Internet protocol service and Internet protocol-enabled service regulation prohibited.
• HF0862 – Retail Sales definition relating to fiber optic and communication cable clarified.
• HF0053 – Telecommunications equipment exemption expanded.
• HF0572 – Utility licenses crossing public lands and waters fee exemption created.
• HF0577 – Internet sales of restricted use pesticides restricted.
• HF1066 – Competitive market regulation for local exchange carriers provided.

Senate

• SF0736  – Telecommunications competitive market regulation for certain local exchange carriers
• SF0877  – Utilities railroad right-of-way crossing permission requirement and procedure establishment
• SF0895  – Voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) services and Internet protocol (IP)-enabled services regulation prohibition

Use/Prohibition of Broadband to Deliver Gov Services

House:

• HF0051 – Lottery ticket sales through a website or self-service device suspended.
• HF0374 – Lawful gambling; clarifying, conforming, and technical changes made; games, prizes, and other provisions regulating conduct of lawful gambling modified; and director of State Lottery prohibited from offering casino-style games, sale of tickets of the State Lottery through a website or self-service devices suspended.
• HF0926 – Appleton; regional public television station funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

Senate

• SF0128  – Civil commitment hearings interactive video conference use
• SF0145  – Technology initiatives 1:1 device program guidelines commissioner of education research requirement
• SF0188  – Web site or self-service device lottery ticket sale suspension authorization
• SF0376  – Commercial business assumed name certificates Web site publication requirement
• SF0397  – Blue Alert system establishment to aid in the apprehension of those who kill or injure law enforcement officers
• SF0514  – Interactive Internet continuing education courses regulation modification
• SF0632  – Automobile insurance proof in electronic format authorization
• SF0662  – Food support, cash assistance, child care, and health care programs eligibility and application integrated online portal implementation requirement
• SF0686  – Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) law enforcement use regulation; electronic devices location information government entities search warrant requirement
• SF0754  – Body camera use by law enforcement moratorium
• SF0820  – Agriculture research, education and technology transfer board establishment and appropriation
• SF0981  – Minnesota Telemedicine Act
• SF0990  – Digital student achievement backpack establishment
• SF1018  – MNsure exemption of MN.IT information technology services removal
• SF1071  – Violence against health care workers in licensed hospitals preparedness and incident response guidelines establishment; violence prevention database development requirement

Consumer/Citizen Protection

House

• HF0200 – Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act enacted.
• HF0253 – Captioning required on all televisions and audiovisual display equipment used to communicate with the public.
• HF0517 – Supercookie use and installation regulation, and remedies provided.

Senate

• SF0419  – Crime of electronic impersonation establishment
• SF0476  – Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act
• SF0478  – Constitutional amendment providing for right of citizens to be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures of electronic communications and data
• SF0785  – Hacking into Web sites government entities search warrant requirement
• SF0873  – Fair repair requirements for manufacturers of digital electronic equipment
• SF0935  – Supercookies installation and use regulation
• SF0985  – Cell phone use while driving prohibition
• SF0987  – TV captioning requirement
• SF1039  – Deputy registrar electronic medium records storage authorization