§ 50-40-61. Creation of Georgia Broadband Ready Community Site Designation Program
In order to encourage economic development and attract technology enabled growth in Georgia, the Department of Community Affairs shall, with the assistance of the Department of Economic Development, create and administer the “Georgia Broadband Ready Community Site Designation Program.” Such program shall designate facilities and developments that offer broadband services at a rate of not […]
§ 50-40-1. Definitions
As used in this chapter, the term: “Broadband network project” means any deployment of broadband services. “Broadband services” means a wired or wireless terrestrial service that consists of the capability to transmit at a rate of not less than 25 megabits per second in the downstream direction and at least 3 megabits per second in […]
§ 50-40-2. Coordination of State-Wide Efforts; Development of Policies and Programs; Annual Reporting and Required Information; Cooperation Between State Agencies
The Georgia Technology Authority is authorized and directed to establish and implement such policies and programs as are necessary to coordinate state-wide efforts to promote and facilitate deployment of broadband services and other emerging communications technologies throughout the state. Such policies and programs may include, but are not limited to, the following: A written state-wide […]
§ 50-40-3. Confidential and Proprietary Nature of Information Provided by Broadband Service Providers
All information provided by a broadband services provider pursuant to this chapter shall be presumed to be confidential, proprietary, a trade secret as such term is defined in Code Section 10-1-761, and subject to exemption from disclosure under state and federal law and shall not be subject to disclosure under Article 4 of Chapter 18 […]
§ 50-40-20. Determination of Served and Unserved Areas
The Department of Community Affairs shall determine those areas in the state that are served areas and unserved areas and shall publish such findings. History. Code 1981, § 50-40-20 , enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 629, § 6-1/SB 402.
§ 50-40-21. Development, Publication and Utilization of Map Identifying Underserved Areas
On or before January 1, 2019, the Department of Community Affairs shall publish on its website a map showing the unserved areas in the state. The Department of Community Affairs shall consult with the Federal Communications Commission in determining if a map showing the unserved areas, as determined by the Department of Community Affairs, exists. […]
§ 50-40-22. Petition Contesting Maps
An entity that is authorized to apply for or that obtains a certificate of authority pursuant to Code Section 45-5-163, a broadband services provider, or a political subdivision may file a petition with the Department of Community Affairs along with data specifying locations or census blocks which the petitioner alleges should be designated differently than […]
§ 50-40-40. Certification as Broadband Ready Community; Requirements for Certification
A political subdivision that has a comprehensive plan that includes the promotion of the deployment of broadband services, as required pursuant to Code Sections 36-70-6 and 50-8-7.1, may apply to the Department of Community Affairs for certification as a broadband ready community. The department shall by rules and regulations prescribe the form and manner for […]
§ 50-40-41. Requirements for Local Ordinances for Reviewing Applications and Issuing Permits; Development of Model Ordinances; Monitoring Compliance
A political subdivision shall not be certified as a broadband ready community unless such political subdivision enacts an ordinance for reviewing applications and issuing permits related to broadband network projects that provides for all of the following: Appointing a single point of contact for all matters related to a broadband network project; Requiring such political […]
§ 50-40-42. Decertification by Department
A political subdivision that the department has certified as a broadband ready community under Code Section 50-40-41 may be decertified by the department if it: Imposes an unreasonable or noncost based fee to review an application or issue a permit for a broadband network project. Any application fee that exceeds $100.00 shall be considered unreasonable […]