Ky. and Miss. Reps Pass Broadband Office Bills

The Kentucky House unanimously approved a bill authorizing a state broadband office to use federal broadband equity, access and deployment funds. Members voted 95-0 Thursday to send HB-267 to the Senate. Also, that day, the Mississippi House voted 120-0 to pass an ethics measure for its state broadband office. HB-1471 would prohibit Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) officers and employees from accepting or receiving “any gratuity, gift, gift in-kind, money, emolument, or any other pecuniary benefit, either directly or indirectly,” from any broadband provider, association, nonprofit or other entity that works with BEAM. HB-1471 will go to the Senate.