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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE |
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LD 1975 |
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LR 1304(04) |
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An Act to
Eliminate the ConnectMaine Authority by Repealing the Advanced Technology
Infrastructure Act |
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Fiscal Note for
Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " " |
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Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology |
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Fiscal Note Required: Yes |
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| Fiscal Note |
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Current biennium revenue decrease - Maine Connectivity Authority
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund |
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FY 2025-26 |
FY 2026-27 |
Projections FY 2027-28 |
Projections FY 2028-29 |
| Appropriations/Allocations |
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Other Special Revenue Funds |
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$0 |
($1,716,285) |
($1,716,285) |
($1,716,285) |
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| Fiscal Detail
and Notes |
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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. |
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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 includes a corresponding deallocation beginning in
fiscal year 2026-27 to reflect the account's elimination. |
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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. |
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