(b) Under the policies and guidance of the commission, the Oregon Business Development Department shall adopt rules for the submission of project plans by telecommunications carriers and other persons, including criteria for approval of such plans. The rules shall include criteria to determine if the telecommunications carrier reasonably should be expected to make the investment based on an economic analysis of the project. Projects that are determined to meet the criteria but are not economically self-supporting or would not be undertaken in the time frame proposed shall be given priority over similar projects that would be economically self-supporting or likely would be completed in the time frame proposed. The rules shall provide for review of the economic benefits of the proposed plan to the affected community and the potential for the proposed plan to leverage other funding sources including but not limited to federal, state and private sources.

(c) The commission also shall approve expenditures from the Public Access Account of the Connecting Oregon Communities Fund established in ORS 759.445 (4).

(2) There is established within the Oregon Business Development Department the Connecting Oregon Communities Advisory Board consisting of five members appointed by the commission. The commission shall seek advice from the Governor prior to making an appointment to the advisory board.

(3) There shall be one member of the advisory board from each of the following areas:

(a) Eastern Oregon, including Hood River County;

(b) Central Oregon;

(c) Southern Oregon;

(d) Coastal Oregon; and

(e) The Willamette Valley.

(4) Employees of the Public Utility Commission, employees of state or local government who are responsible for purchasing telecommunications services or equipment and employees of a telecommunications carrier may not be appointed to the advisory board.

(5) The advisory board shall select one of its members as chairperson and another of its members as vice chairperson, for such terms and with duties and powers necessary for the performance of the functions of those offices as the board determines.

(6) The purpose of the advisory board is to review and make recommendations to the Oregon Business Development Commission for approval of and modifications to projects funded by a telecommunications carrier’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Account under this section and ORS 759.405. The advisory board shall seek advice and comment on plans submitted by a telecommunications carrier from affected local communities including but not limited to local governments, citizens and businesses. The advisory board also shall seek advice and comment from state and federal agencies when appropriate to ensure that investments will maximize statewide public benefits and are consistent with the needs and desires of the local communities. The advisory board shall consider the needs of and impact on education, health care, economic development and the delivery of state and local governmental services when evaluating a plan.

(7) The advisory board also shall review proposals submitted to the commission under ORS 759.445 (5) and make recommendations to the commission regarding approval, modification or denial of the proposals.

(8) The advisory board shall make an annual report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology on the plans and activities funded under ORS 759.405 and 759.445 (5).

(9)(a) Reasonable expenses incurred by the members of the advisory board in the performance of their duties, costs of the Oregon Business Development Department directly related to providing staff to the advisory board and costs to the department for providing technical assistance to local communities shall be paid out of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Accounts created under ORS 759.405.

(b) Following the transfer of funds required under ORS 759.405 (2) and (3), a telecommunications carrier that elects to be subject to regulation under ORS 759.405 and 759.410 shall transfer from the remaining funds in its Telecommunications Infrastructure Account the following amounts to the Oregon Business Development Department to be used for the payment of expenses described in paragraph (a) of this subsection:

(A) $575,000 in 2000;

(B) $325,000 in 2001;

(C) $325,000 in 2002; and

(D) $325,000 in 2003.

(c) If more than one telecommunications carrier elects to be subject to regulation under ORS 759.405 and 759.410, the funding requirements described in paragraph (b) of this subsection shall be distributed pro rata among the electing carriers. [1999 c.1093 §31]