This morning the Senate Committee on Finance began their day discussing broadband. Senator Schmit introduced broadband article and it passed with some but not a lot of discussion. The biggest concern seemed to be the impact of the State broadband funding and CAF II funding.

It may be helpful to say that the CAF II funding requires a provider to upgrade their network to 10 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up. The Senate is looking at a 25/3 speed definition to qualify unserved projects and asks that the network be upgradable to 100/100. The State does not have influence over CAF II funding projects BUT by allowing projects that qualify for CAF II to also qualify for State funding changes that – because once State funding is involved the State does have influence. So it is one way to help leverage CAF II funding and ask CAF II funded projects to meet State speed requirements.