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

(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/or and resource leveraging to enhance economic and technological
development; and

(iv) examining any other pertinent issues; and

(5)     shall oversee the implementation of the Task Force's
recommendations made under item (4) of this subsection, and as the Task Force may
determine, offer any recommendations pertaining to:

(i) legislation for possible introduction in the 2004 or 2005 session
of the General Assembly to implement the recommendations of the Task Force;

(ii) budget provisions and amendments for inclusion in the State
budgets for fiscal years 2005, 2006, and beyond; and

(iii) programmatic changes in State procurement or other areas that
might be implemented by regulation; and.

(6)     (i) (1) subject to In accordance with § 2-1246 of the State
Government Article, the Task Force shall report to the Governor-; and to the President
of the Senate of Maryland, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Chairmen
of the Senate Finance Committee, the House Economic Matters Committee, and the
chairmen of the General Assembly's rural delegations, as follows: provided in
paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(2) The Task Force shall issue:

(i) on or before December 1, 2003, issue a preliminary report and
draft statewide rural development plan focusing on public and private broadband
communications access;

(ii) on or before January 15, 2004, issue an interim report and
recommendations for a statewide broadband communications plan focusing on private
sector access;

(iii) on or before December 1, 2004, issue a progress report on the
implementation of the plans for public and private broadband communications access,
together with any follow-up recommendations; and

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