The bill amends the "Broadband Deployment and Investment Act" to emphasize the importance of broadband infrastructure for the social, physical, and economic well-being of Rhode Islanders. It introduces new findings that highlight the critical role of broadband in various sectors, including healthcare, education, and public safety. The bill mandates the continuous collection, analysis, and public availability of broadband data to ensure services are reliable, secure, affordable, and accessible. It also establishes the need for a broadband regulatory authority to oversee these efforts.

The bill requires Internet service providers (ISPs) to submit data to the Rhode Island commerce corporation for the maintenance of a statewide broadband map. This map will detail service availability, maximum advertised download and upload speeds, types of transmission technology used, and consumer subscriptions, and will be updated regularly. The corporation is tasked with developing a regulatory plan for the new authority, which will include oversight of broadband planning, deployment, service quality, consumer protections, and equitable access.

To fund the data collection and other activities required under the bill, the corporation will collect fees from ISPs operating in Rhode Island, based on the revenue generated from providing broadband services. The bill also includes provisions for penalties for ISPs that fail to submit accurate or timely data or fees. The act is set to take effect upon passage.