ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                            S.B. 487

(2) IDENTIFY UNUSED CAPACITY IN EXISTING FACILITIES; AND

(3) PLAN THE OPTIMAL LOCATION OF POINTS OF PRESENCE IN EACH
LATA IN THE STATE.

[(c)] (D) The network shall be accessible through direct connection and
through local intra LATA telecommunications to State and local governments and
public and private educational institutions in the State.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(a) On or before July 1, 2004, the Department of Business and Economic
Development shall identify existing and significant potential demand for access to
high speed telecommunication and data transmission services facilities in
underserved rural areas of the State, in consultation with local government officials,
existing businesses, and existing regional and local consortia and other groups
involved with high technology economic development in those areas;

(b) On or before July 1, 2004, the Department of Budget and Management
shall explore expansion of high speed telecommunication and data transmission
capacity, including fiber optic cable and competing technologies, into underserved
rural areas that have existing and significant potential demand for the capacity
afforded by fiber optic cable and competing technologies associated with State and
local economic development, by expansion of the State backbone and network under §
3-705 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, through other
Net.Work.Maryland or successor initiatives, or through other public private
cooporation with commercial providers of high-speed telecommunication and data
transmission services, and shall also explore alternative models for delivering these
services in underserved rural areas;

(c) On or before January 1, 2005, the Department of Business and Economic
Development, in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management, shall
facilitate the expansion of high speed telecommunication and data transmission
services and facilities into underserved rural areas of the State by matching existing
and significant potential demand with private and public providers of these services
and facilities; and

(d) On or before January 1, 2004, the Department of Business and Economic
Development and the Department of Budget and Management shall report jointly,
subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on their
progress in complying with this section.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 2003.

(a)     There is a Task Force on Broadband Communications Deployment in
Underserved Rural Areas.

(b)     The Task Force consists of the following 20 members:

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