33-910. BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUND — RULEMAKING — DEFINITIONS. (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury a fund to be known as the broadband infrastructure improvement grant fund. The fund shall consist of moneys made available through legislative transfers or appropriations, and from any other governmental source. Interest earned from the investment of moneys in the fund shall be retained in the fund. Subject to appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be expended by the state department of education to invest in special construction projects for high-speed broadband connections to E-rate eligible entities that receive E-rate funding.

(2) The state department of education shall create and make available a grant application form for moneys in the fund. The state department may determine eligibility qualifications and applicant priority. Any E-rate eligible entity may apply to the state department for a grant from the fund for up to ten percent (10%) of the cost of an eligible special construction project.

(3) The state board of education may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Such rules shall be consistent with the federal communications commission’s second E-rate modernization order that provides for additional category one funding up to ten percent (10%) to match state funding for special construction charges for high-speed broadband connections.

(4) For the purposes of this section, "E-rate eligible entity" means Idaho public schools grades K through 12, the Idaho digital learning academy, the Idaho department of juvenile corrections education programs, the school for the deaf and the blind and the Idaho public libraries.

History:

[33-910, added 2016, ch. 183, sec. 1, p. 495; am. 2017, ch. 89, sec. 1, p. 236.]