ONE YEAR EXTENSION AGREED ON FOR BROADBAND BILL

Harrisburg, Nov. 19, 2003 – State Sen. Connie Williams offered her reluctant support of an amendment that would provide a one-year extension on the sunsetting of Chapter 30 (broadband deployment) in Pennsylvania.

“It is unfortunate that the budget has pushed the Chapter 30 discussion back,” Williams said. “I supported the amendment today, because I was concerned that if we didn’t, the Commonwealth would cease to have oversight over deployment of broadband.

“Access to high-speed communications is essential to health care, education and the economy. We can’t afford to allow this important technology to not be available for everyone -- not just where there are higher levels of population.”

Technology and access to high-speed Internet is moving at speeds unimagined just 10 years ago and Williams is working to ensure that Pennsylvania is ready to meet the needs of consumers, businesses and the health-care and education communities. 

Williams, Democratic chairwoman of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, is working with colleagues and industry leaders to ensure Pennsylvania can provide high-speed Internet capability to every area of the state.

Chapter 30 – Pennsylvania’s 1993 law that began the process of broadband distribution across the state – is due to expire on Dec. 31, 2003. For the past two years, the Senate committee received an intense education on the technical aspects of telecommunications. As a result of those hearings and debates, Williams and Sen. Jake Corman, Republican chairman of the committee, introduced legislation (S.B. 900 and S.B. 30) that would ensure the Commonwealth is wired with the broadband infrastructure that will serve as the backbone for economic development.

“I am not happy with the delay we voted for today, but I know it is necessary to ensure the state continues to have oversight over broadband,” Williams said. “I remain optimistic that we will have legislation in place that will accelerate broadband distribution long before the one-year extension is realized.”

The amended bill (S.B. 677) was sent to the House for its concurrence. House members would have to concur on the bill before it could be sent to the governor for his consideration. Before the extension would take effect, the bill would have to be signed into law. In the interim, Williams said that she and the committee are continuing hearings and debates in an effort to finalize language.