Alabama Rural Broadband Oversight Committee.

(a) There is created the Alabama Rural Broadband Oversight Committee. The committee shall consist of the Chair of the House Ways and Means Education Committee or his or her designee, the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee or his or her designee, two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Director of ADECA or his or her designee. The committee shall meet at least annually, provide general oversight of the implementation of the article, and recommend further statutory changes to promote rural broadband development.

(b) The committee shall reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

(c) For any year in which grants are distributed under the program, ADECA shall produce a report on the status of grants under the program to the committee, including progress toward increased access to and adoption of broadband services. The report shall be provided at the committee's first meeting of the year and be published on ADECA's website. ADECA shall provide a copy of the report to the Governor, the Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore, the Alabama Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, and the Alabama House of Representatives Minority Leader. By March 28, 2019, ADECA shall produce a report on the availability of broadband within the state.

(Act 2018-395, §5; Act 2019-327, §1.)