HB 1004 – Small Business Restart Grant Program
Authored by Rep. Shane Lindauer (R-Jasper); co-authored by Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica) and Rep. Alan Morrison (R-Brazil); sponsored by Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen)

Establishes the Hoosier hospitality small business restart grant program to provide grants to eligible entities to accelerate economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Establishes the small business restart grant fund. Provides that the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) administers the program and fund. Provides criteria for grants. Allows the IEDC to award grants from the fund.

Chamber position: Support

The latest: On Monday, the House concurred on the Senate-amended version by a vote of 94-3.

Indiana Chamber action/commentary: House Bill 1004 is on its way to Governor Holcomb for his expected signature. The bill directs $60 million in unutilized federal CARES Act funding to be used to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Despite the bill listing hospitality businesses specifically, businesses eligible to apply for grants also include those in any other industry that has suffered economic harm as a result of the coronavirus disease. Pursuant to the bill, eligible businesses may receive up to $10,000 per month with a maximum total grant amount of $50,000.

HB 1164 – Various Utility Matters
Authored by Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport)

Facilitates access to and adoption of broadband as follows:

Makes it simpler for school districts to locate broadband facilities on their property

  • Allows traditional cell towers to be built at greater heights and closer together to increase coverage and capacity
  • Streamlines access to state-owned properties and structures to deploy broadband faster
  • Clarifies where 5G technology can be deployed to help ensure Indiana remains a 5G technology leader

Chamber position: Support

The latest: On Thursday, the bill passed the Senate Utilities Committee 7-3 after hearing testimony from 20 witnesses.

HB 1449 – Broadband Development
Authored by Rep. Soliday; sponsored by Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford), Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) and Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington)

SB 377 – Broadband Development
Authored by Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington); sponsored by Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso

Senate Bill 377 establishes the Indiana broadband connectivity program to enable residents and businesses who do not have access to high-speed broadband to submit their address to the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Then, internet service providers may bid competitively on providing “last mile” connectivity to the respective addresses.

Like SB 377, HB 1449 also seeks to codify a connectivity policy prerogative. Additionally, HB 1449 prioritizes broadband funding by extending service to public school corporation buildings, rural health buildings and every Indiana student less than 23 years of age, as well as to rural areas in which the only available connections to the internet are at actual speeds of less than 50 mbps downstream.

Chamber position: Support

The latest: On Tuesday, SB 377 was amended on second reading and is now eligible for third reading. A motion to concur was filed for HB 1449, but no vote has yet been taken.

SB 352 – Broadband Development
Authored by Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem); sponsored by Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport)

SB 359 – Broadband Projects
Authored by Sen. Scott Baldwin (R-Noblesville); sponsored by Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport)

Chamber position: Support

Senate Bill 352 adds transparency and competitiveness to the existing broadband grant program; specifically, (i) allows provider grant applicants to submit a “letter of intent” that includes the addresses it intends to serve, which becomes publicly available, and (ii) invites competitor providers to challenge the application based on its existing investment and intent to serve those addresses.

Senate Bill 359 was significantly amended in the House; it no longer establishes a means for localities to pay for broadband projects by issuing bonds. Rather, the bill modifies the broadband corridor program to require the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to implement a “dig once” initiative. In short, INDOT is required to bury a fiberoptic conduit contemporaneous with its infrastructure construction. The conduit becomes available to internet service providers wishing to use the conduit to extend broadband fiber throughout the state.

The latest: On Monday, SB 352 and SB 359 passed out of the House by votes of 93-1 and 94-1, respectively.

Indiana Chamber action/commentary: The Indiana Chamber’s support for all of these bills is well documented as we feel that each will move the needle on broadband expansion in its own way. The Chamber is especially delighted by the Legislature adopting the connectivity initiative, which has been a key goal for the Chamber this session. By allowing residents and businesses to proactively request access to high-speed broadband, it will expedite deployment and ensure efficient spending of taxpayer funds.

Thursday’s hearing on HB 1164 certainly brought forth its fair share of opponents who fear small cell wireless towers will be constructed in their front lawn. However, the issue of whether or not providers have the legal authority to construct small cell towers has been litigated and resolved in previous sessions. What is lost amongst most opponents is that HB 1164 opens the door to more input by residents and local legislative bodies to approve or deny providers’ plans for construction.

Nevertheless, the Chamber’s support for HB 1164 centers around the bill’s policy objectives to reduce the red tape involved with installing broadband infrastructure. Too many projects are hampered by regulatory burdens, which delay deployment, access and adoption to high-speed broadband by Hoosier residents and businesses.

Resource: Adam H. Berry at (317) 264-6892 or email: aberry@indianachamber.com