Sponsor urges higher speed standards and extended broadband office sunset; industry groups caution on exclusions

A broadband bill presented by the sponsor, who self-identified as Louis Reyes, proposed raising statutory speed standards for future broadband funding, extending the state broadband office sunset and creating guardrails to prevent funding substandard deployments.

The sponsor framed the bill as a response to federal funding changes and auction defaults, saying the state must "future proof" its standards given rising demands from new technologies such as artificial intelligence. He described prior federal funding rounds as flawed and argued higher state standards will prevent repeated underbuilding.

Supporters including Jay Hardenbrook of AARP and the state’s broadband director, BJ Tengsley, testified in favor of raising speeds and extending the office’s sunset to continue long-term work. Opponents, represented by industry groups such as the Internet and Television Association and some trade associations, said provisions that would exclude cable or certain fixed wireless providers from eligibility could force inefficient overbuilds and prioritized speed over universal access.

Committee members asked about technology neutrality, cost trade-offs, and how the state should balance reaching everyone versus imposing higher speed thresholds. The broadband office told the panel a small number of locations may still need funding after federal deployment programs finish, and witnesses urged care in balancing priorities.

The hearing included back-and-forth on specific speed levels and whether satellite and fixed wireless should be eligible if they meet proposed standards; the sponsor said many elements are negotiable as the bill moves through the process.