SCS/SB 184 - This act creates the Electrical Corporation Broadband Authorization Act, which allows broadband services providers, as defined in the act, to utilize certain electrical corporation broadband infrastructure to provide broadband services, as such term is defined in the act. The act modifies the definition of "electric plant" to include broadband infrastructure operated, controlled, owned, used or to be used for or in connection with or to facilitate the provision of electric service, broadband operations, or broadband service. The act also creates several definitions relating to broadband.
An electrical corporation shall not provide broadband services to end-use customers.
As described in the act, an electrical corporation's investment in such broadband infrastructure shall be included in the electrical corporation's rate base used to set the revenue requirement upon which the electrical corporation's base rates are set.
The Public Service Commission shall not have jurisdiction over the terms, conditions, charges, contracts, leases, licenses, or other agreements of an electrical corporation for the corporation's broadband operations or provision of broadband services through a broadband services provider. The rates and charges that an electrical corporation assess upon a broadband services provider shall be standardized for all such providers.
Finally, the act allows an electrical corporation to condemn land for the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure.
This act is similar to HB 321 (2021), SB 921 (2020), and HB 2302 (2020).
JAMIE ANDREWS
Statutes affected: Introduced (0955S.01):
386.020,
393.1420,
523.010Committee (0955S.02):
386.020,
393.1420,
523.010
Senate Committee Minutes: SENATE COMMITTEE MINUTES Bill No.: SB 184
Sponsor: Bean
Hearing Date: 3/24/2021
COMMITTEE: Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment
CHAIRMAN: Cierpiot
DATE REFERRED: 1/28/2021 DATE HEARING REQUESTED: 3/9/2021
STAFF:
Jamie Andrews
Denise Cantrell
Heidi Kolkmeyer
Michelle Pleus
WITNESSES GIVING INFORMATION:
WITNESSES FOR:
Ray McCarty - Associated Industries of Missouri
Arnie C. AC "Honest-Abe" DIENOFF - State Public Advocate-Makes Sense & NEEDS P.S.C. Oversight
Pat Kelly - SB 184 will allow the expansion of fiber networks and broadband within existing infrastructure givin
Jason Zamkus - Northeast Missouri Economic Development Council
Zach Monroe - Ameren Missouri
David Woodsmall - MECG
Jessica Petri - Mo Association of Rural Health Clinics
Stephen Nittler - Wisper ISP, Inc
BJ Tanksley - Missouri Farm Bureau
Richard Brownlee - Google Inc
David Irek - Ameren Missouri
Joseph Froddose - Ameren Missouri
WITNESSES AGAINST:
Claudia Sands - Luman
Doug Galloway - AT&T
Matt Kohly - Socket Telecom, LLC
Daryl Duwe - Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association