Ch. 320

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(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] OTHER
PERSONS;

(4)     there is a need to improve access, especially in rural areas, to
efficient telecommunication and computer network connections;

(5) IMPROVED ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED TELECOMMUNICATION AND
COMPUTER NETWORKING CONNECTIONS IN DESIGNATED GROWTH AREAS,
PARTICULARLY IN UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED PARTS OF THE STATE, WILL
FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN APPROPRIATE AREAS, FURTHERING THE GOAL
OF EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE BY;

(I) PROMOTING LOW IMPACT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT
WILL REQUIRE LITTLE ADDITIONAL TRADITIONAL CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND
CONSUMPTION OF LAND; AND

(II) ASSISTING COMMUNITY LEGACY AND REVITALIZATION
EFFORTS IN CURRENT POPULATION CENTERS OF UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED
AREAS THROUGH PROMOTING REINVESTMENT IN THESE COMMUNITIES,
FACILITATING THE REUSE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES IN THESE
COMMUNITIES, AND DRAWING EMPLOYEES FROM THE COMMUNITIES AND THEIR
ENVIRONS;

(6) improvement of telecommunication and computer networking [for
State and local governments and educational institutions] UNDER THIS SECTION
promotes economic development, educational resource use and development, and
efficiency in State and local administration; and

[(6)] (7) 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 COMPLEMENT IT WHERE IT EXISTS, TO
PROVIDE ACCESS WHERE COMMERCIAL ACCESS IS LACKING, AND 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, SITED TO PROVIDE SUITABLE
ACCESS FOR RURAL AS WELL AS URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS;

(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] CURRENT COMMERCIAL BROADBAND
STANDARDS, to allow SUFFICIENT communication rates [of at least 45 megabits per
second,] and multiplexing for transmission of video, voice, and data;

- 2390 -