127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1185		LR 1510(01)
	An Act To Establish the Municipal Gigabit Broadband Network Access Fund
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Higgins of Dover-Foxcroft
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
			FY 2015-16	FY 2016-17	Projections  FY 2017-18	Projections  FY 2018-19
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$12,500,000	$0	$0	$0
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$12,500,000	$0	$0	$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes one-time General Fund appropriations totaling $12,500,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 to the newly established Municipal Gigabit Broadband Network Access Fund within the Department of Economic and Community Development for the costs associated with addressing the need in the State for access to ultra high-speed broadband infrastructure.  Of this amount, $1,500,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2015-16 for the cost to the department to administer and evaluate the project and $11,000,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2015-16  for one-time planning and implementation grants to communities and municipalities to support public-private partnerships to establish a municipal gigabit fiber-optic broadband network in their regions.
	Any additional costs to the Public Utilities Commission to revise certain rules and to the ConnectMe Authority to review relevant laws, rules and regulations related to high-speed broadband access are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.