Statement of the Governor’s Rural Partnership Board’s Top 2021 Legislative Priorities

• The Utah Universal Service Fund (UUSF) program was revised in 2017 with SB130 to include support for networks capable of providing voice and/or wholesale broadband for rate of return carriers of last resort, and voice and/or retail broadband for non-rate of return carriers of last resort, such as CenturyLink to rural Utah. This fund is crucial to getting affordable broadband access in rural areas. It’s imperative that communities are able to have eligible providers that can utilize this fund to provide essential broadband speeds for education, telework, telehealth, etc. Therefore, the GRPB recommends that the UUSF continue to be available for the deployment and

maintenance of broadband infrastructure to ensure broadband service provision to Utah’s high-cost rural areas . The GRPB further recommends a letter of support to the Public Service Commission regarding such and to express concern about the unresolved issue of the quality of broadband in rural counties and tribal lands .

• Residents without access to the internet, devices, or digital literacy skills are largely unable to access telehealth services, online employment or education, public services, or information needed to participate in democratic processes. A statewide coordinating and innovative funding can ensure resources are used efficiently and effectively across sectors. Therefore, the GRPB recommends supporting legislation to fund a state position to manage

and coordinate statewide digital equity and inclusion efforts .

• Utah should offer support to tribal governments looking to expand upon and/or build new infrastructure to bring broadband services to their areas. This new or improved infrastructure could help tribes provide internet services to tribal members and surrounding non-Indian communities that need the same service. Having a tribe become the internet provider would help tribes economically and, in the long run, relieve financial burdens on the state to provide reliable internet to all of Utah’s citizens. Therefore, the GRPB recommends supporting legislation to fund

broadband infrastructure to allow tribal governments in rural areas to become internet providers to their reservations and surrounding non-Indian rural communities .

1. The GRPB recommends the legislature help rural co-op and municipal electric power system service

territories build out infrastructure that supports low emission vehicles’ future growth .

2. The GRPB recommends participating with legislators in rural educational opportunities including:

a. Identify and recruit sponsors for a legislative tour of rural Utah, rural utility facilities, and Utah’s current natural resource industries economies. b. Participation in the Rural Caucus. c. Emphasis on rural utilities during the legislative “Rural Day.” d. Educational seminars for new and existing legislators about rural utilities, natural resource industries, and the realities of Utah’s rural economies.

3. The GRPB recommends the legislature create policy to protect Utah’s power networks and reliable generation facilities.

4. The GRPB recommends supporting the State Broadband Initiative proposals to address cost and connectivity in rural Utah, and tribal lands including:

a. legislation to increase the state Lifeline discount for broadband internet connection for low-income households. b. legislation to help provide matching fund requirements for federally funded rural and tribal broadband infrastructure deployment. The GRPB additionally recommends that weight is given to providers to hire local

Utah workers to install broadband to support the rural economies. c. legislation to fund a state position to manage and coordinate statewide digital equity and inclusion efforts. d. legislation to fund broadband infrastructure to allow tribal governments in rural areas to become internet providers to their reservations and surrounding non-Indian rural communities.