Broadband Accessibility Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 25 TO CHAPTER 9, TITLE 58 ENTITLED "BROADBAND ACCESSIBILITY ACT" SO AS TO PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO DEFINE RELEVANT TERMS; TO AUTHORIZE AND REGULATE THE PROVISION OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE BY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES; TO AMEND SECTION 33-49-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE "ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ACT", SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "BROADBAND SYSTEM"; TO AMEND SECTION 33-49-150, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY AND JURISDICTION OF THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF OVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, SO AS TO VEST THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF WITH THE AUTHORITY AND JURISDICTION TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS, AUDITS, AND EXAMINATIONS REGARDING THE COMPLIANCE OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 33-49-250, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COOPERATIVE HAS THE POWER TO WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY OWN, OPERATE, MAINTAIN, CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, AND REPLACE A BROADBAND SYSTEM DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THROUGH ITSELF OR THROUGH ANOTHER ENTITY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A SUBSIDIARY, A CORPORATION, OR A COOPERATIVE OF WHICH IT IS A MEMBER OR AN AFFILIATE.