ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 320

(i) the resources, infrastructure, and cost structures now in place
or available in the various rural regions of the State for developing or obtaining access
to broadband communications;

(ii) the feasibility of using existing or alternative legal mechanisms
and infrastructure to support the economical development of broadband
communications in rural areas of the State;

(iii) the utility of several applications where broadband
communications would benefit rural areas, such as applications relating to
agriculture, medicine, and education; and

(iv) any other matters that the Task Force considers pertinent to
establishing effective broadband communications in the rural areas of the State;

(3)     shall encourage the development of specific goals for the State in the
deployment of broadband communications in rural areas, including:

(i) the development of economically competitive access to
broadband communications by the public and private sectors in each rural area of the
State;

(ii) the availability of broadband communications access
throughout the rural areas of the State to address issues of universal service in
unserved and underserved communities;

(iii) the development and expansion of practical applications for the
enhancement of economic development, and other public benefits;

(iv) the development of affinities and interconnection among the
governmental units in the State, educational institutions, and private industry; and

(v) any other goals that the Task Force determines to be in the
public interest;

(4)     shall develop proposals and recommendations for the establishment
and enhancement of broadband communications in rural areas by:

(i) reviewing government policies for the promotion, development,
and economically competitive use of broadband communications;

(ii) identifying sources of funding and support, including leveraging
of State and federal resources;

(iii) encouraging private and public participation in the
development and use of broadband communications in rural areas, including demand
aggregation and resource leveraging to enhance economic and technological
development; and

(iv) examining any other pertinent issues; and

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