househouse billbill NO. 494494

INTRODUCED BY D. Harvey, K. Abbott, A. Buckley, M. Caferro, D. Fern, T. France, M. Funk, J. Keane, K. Kelker, E. Kerr-Carpenter, M. Marler, S. Novak, T. Running Wolf, F. Smith, E. Stafman, S. Stewart Peregoy, K. Sullivan, M. Thane, M. Weatherwax, J. Windy Boy, E. Boldman, R. Lynchn, R. LynchD. Harvey, K. Abbott, A. Buckley, M. Caferro, D. Fern, T. France, M. Funk, J. Keane, K. Kelker, E. Kerr-Carpenter, M. Marler, S. Novak, T. Running Wolf, F. Smith, E. Stafman, S. Stewart Peregoy, K. Sullivan, M. Thane, M. Weatherwax, J. Windy Boy, E. Boldma

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION LAW; PROVIDING FOR COLLABORATIVE BROADBAND INSTALLATION; AND PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Broadband deployment. (1) The department shall maintain a list of entities working on broadband deployment in the state.

(2) When the department plans a highway construction project involving construction methods suitable for installing broadband conduit in the highway right-of-way or conducive to accessing the utility right-of-way, the department shall notify entities working on broadband deployment of the project to encourage collaborative broadband installation.

(3) The department may adopt administrative rules to implement this section.

(4) As used in this section, "entities working on broadband deployment" includes but is not limited to local governments, nonprofit organizations, cable television companies, and telephone companies.

Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 60, chapter 4, and the provisions of Title 60, chapter 4, apply to [section 1].