132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1975		LR 1304(01)
	An Act to Eliminate the ConnectMaine Authority by Repealing the Advanced Technology Infrastructure Act
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Ducharme of Madison
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Current biennium revenue decrease - Maine Connectivity Authority Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund
			FY 2025-26	FY 2026-27	Projections  FY 2027-28	Projections  FY 2028-29
Appropriations/Allocations
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	($1,716,285)	($1,716,285)	($1,716,285)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill repeals the Advanced Technology Infrastructure Act. The repeal eliminates the ConnectMaine Authority (CMA), its associated accounts, and its statutory authority to levy assessments and surcharges.
	The repeal eliminates the Municipal Gigabit Broadband Network Access Fund (MGBNA) and the ConnectMaine Fund (CMF). The MGBNA is currently inactive and has no spending authorizations; as a result , no additional action is required to eliminate the account. The CMF currently includes an annual allocation of $1,716,285. The bill would require a corresponding deallocation beginning in fiscal year 2026-27 to reflect the account's elimination.
	Under current law, the CMA is authorized to collect an assessment equal to 0.25% of intrastate communications service provider revenue and a surcharge of $0.10 per line or number. Because the CMA operates as a unit within the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), revenues from these sources are currently deposited with the MCA. Repeal of this authority would eliminate approximately $2.0 million in annual revenue to the MCA. The MCA has indicated that these funds are used to support the administration of federal broadband grants and related compliance activities. Elimination of this revenue source may require replacement funding from the General Fund or other state resources to maintain existing administrative and compliance functions.