Whereas, high-speed Internet services will provide access to global energy and marketing and this will be a benefit to the economy of the State; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §7101, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 631, §2 and affected by §5, is amended to read:

4. Information access. The Legislature further declares and finds that computer-based information high-speed Internet services and related information networks are important economic and educational resources that should be available to all Maine citizens at affordable rates. It is the policy of the State that affordable access to those high-speed Internet services and related information services networks that require a computer and rely on the use of the telecommunications network should be made available in all communities of the State without regard to geographic location.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

The bill clarifies Maine telecommunications policy, as enacted in 1995, to ensure that the Public Utilities Commission will pursue the expansion of affordable, high-speed Internet service throughout the State.