72-19-201. Utah Broadband Center -- Creation -- Director -- Duties.
(1) There is created within the department the Utah Broadband Center.
(2) The executive director shall appoint a director of the broadband center to oversee the operations of the broadband center.
(3) The broadband center shall:
(a) ensure that publicly funded broadband projects continue to be publicly accessible and provide a public benefit;
(b) develop the statewide digital connectivity plan described in Section 72-19-203;
(c) carry out the duties described in Section 72-19-202;
(d) administer the Broadband Access Grant Program created in Section 72-19-301; and
(e) administer the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Grant Program created in Section 72-19-401.
(4) The broadband center shall ensure efficiency with respect to:
(a) expenditure of funds; and
(b) avoiding duplication of efforts.
(5) The broadband center shall consider administering broadband infrastructure funds in a manner that:
(a) efficiently maximizes the leverage of federal funding;
(b) avoids the use of public funds for broadband facilities that duplicate existing broadband facilities that already meet or exceed federal standards; and
(c) accounts for the benefits and costs to the state of existing facilities, equipment, and services of public and private broadband providers.