Ch. 722

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

DOES NOT SERVE ALL AREAS OF THE STATE EQUALLY, BUT INSTEAD CREATES A
DISPARITY BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN REGIONS;

(3)      RATES FOR THE INTRASTATE INTER-LATA TELEPHONE
COMMUNICATIONS NEEDED FOR EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF
TELECOMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER RESOURCES ARE PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY
SMALLER GOVERNMENTS, AGENCIES, AND INSTITUTIONS;

(4)      THERE IS A NEED TO IMPROVE ACCESS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL
AREAS, TO EFFICIENT TELECOMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER NETWORK
CONNECTIONS;

(5)      IMPROVEMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER
NETWORKING FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS PROMOTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE
USE AND DEVELOPMENT, AND EFFICIENCY IN STATE AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION;
AND

(6)      THE USE OF IMPROVED STATE TELECOMMUNICATION AND
COMPUTER NETWORKING UNDER THIS SECTION IS INTENDED NOT TO COMPETE
WITH COMMERCIAL ACCESS TO ADVANCED NETWORK TECHNOLOGY. BUT RATHER
TO FOSTER FUNDAMENTAL EFFICIENCIES IN GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION FOR
THE PUBLIC GOOD.

(B)      (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A TELECOMMUNICATION AND
COMPUTER NETWORK IN THE STATE.

(2) THE NETWORK SHALL CONSIST OF:

(I) ONE OR MORE CONNECTION FACILITIES FOR
TELECOMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER CONNECTION IN EACH LATA IN THE STATE;

(II)     A BACKBONE COMPRISING ONE OR MORE INTER-LATA
FIBER-OPTIC LINKS BETWEEN EACH TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY, USING A
FAILURE-RESISTANT ARCHITECTURE, AND ADHERING TO THE DS3 STANDARD OR
BETTER, TO ALLOW COMMUNICATION RATES OF AT LEAST 45 MEGABITS PER
SECOND, AND MULTIPLEXING FOR TRANSMISSION OF VIDEO, VOICE, AND DATA;
AND

(III)    FACILITIES, AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES
REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE NETWORK IN A RELIABLE AND SECURE MANNER.

(C)     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.

(D) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS FOR NETWORK
SPECIFICATIONS DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GOVERNMENTS AND
INSTITUTIONS THAT USE THE NETWORK.

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