| TO: | Honorable Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3325 by Keffer, Jim (Relating to the creation and administration of the community telecommunications alliance program. ), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would require the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Board (Board) to adopt a memorandum of understanding establishing the new community telecommunications alliance program. This analysis assumes ORCA would be responsible for implementing the program. In addition, ORCA and the Board would have to submit a joint report to the Legislature detailing the grant activities of the program grant recipients. The Board estimates it would require two full-time equivalent positions that would include a Manager and a Research Specialist for ORCA to manage this new program. Based on the analysis of the Board and ORCA, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
In addition to other qualified grant recipients and based on fiscal year 2003 funding levels, the Board has up to approximately $22 million available in grants for this new program. The Board indicates the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund will cease to exist after August 31, 2005, and a new funding source would need to be acquired if the program is to continue.
The bill takes effect September 1, 2003.
| Source Agencies: | 357 Office of Rural Community Affairs, 367 Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board
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| LBB Staff: | JK, EB, JRO, RT, DE
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