Sec. 6. Temporary transfer of funds authorized. For purposes of funding activities of the ConnectME Authority under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, chapter 93, the Public Utilities Commission may, upon request of the authority, transfer to the ConnectME Fund, established pursuant to Title 35-A, section 9211, up to $500,000 of previously collected but unallocated funds held by the commission in the universal service fund pursuant to Title 35-A, section 7104. The authority may not request and the commission may not undertake any transfer of funds to the ConnectME Fund under this section until the authority receives authorization pursuant to Title 5, section 8072 to finally adopt major substantive rules under Title 35-A, section 9205, subsection 3 or until after January 15, 2007, whichever is later. Once the authority has collected $500,000 in the ConnectME Fund through assessments collected pursuant to Title 35-A, section 9211, the authority shall transfer to the universal service fund an amount equal to the amount transferred from the universal service fund to the authority under this section. Upon receipt of the transfer into the universal service fund, the commission shall ensure the return of the funds to ratepayers by amending the quarterly assessments made pursuant to Title 35-A, section 7104.

Sec. 7. Submission of plan; authority to report out legislation. No later than January 31, 2008, the ConnectMe Authority, established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 9203, shall submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters a plan, together with necessary implementing legislation, providing for the winding up of the authority's affairs, the disposition of assets and other matters pertaining to the affairs of the authority. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters shall report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature providing for the winding up of the authority's affairs or the repeal of Title 35- A, section 9215.