SB149 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clay Scofield

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Broadband internet access in rural areas, Economic and Community Affairs Dept., grant program, Fund and Legislative Oversight Committees, created, Ala. Broadband Accessibility Act

Description

This bill would encourage accelerated private investment in broadband infrastructure through telecommunications companies, cable companies, and electric cooperatives in rural areas by creating the Alabama Rural Broadband Act to provide a nonrefundable, transferable income tax credit equal to 10 percent of the investment in new qualified broadband network facilities in rural areas, subject to a cap.

This bill would authorize a 10-year exemption of the state portion of property taxes for new qualified broadband network facilities in rural areas and an exemption from sales and use tax for equipment and materials incorporated into or used to operate any qualified broadband network facility, and a similar exemption of the county or municipal portion of property taxes and local sales and use taxes if not disapproved by local governing bodies.

This bill would also provide for the termination of the tax credits allowed by this bill following the close of the tax year in 2023, with certain conditions.

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Subjects

Broadband