A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to provide broadband connectivity for public schools.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management the sum of five million three hundred thousand dollars ($5,300,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year and the sum of twenty‑four million dollars ($24,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year. These funds shall be used by the NC Education Network to:
(1)	Expand the number of publics schools serving prekindergarten through grade 12 with broadband connectivity;
(2)	Provide the "last mile connectivity" to public schools;
(3)	Infuse technology into schools' instructional efforts;
(4)	Maximize the use of e‑rate;
(5)	Revise School Technology Plans; and
(6)	Provide for support personnel, network operations, security, and other appropriate expenditures that are directly connected to the operations of the NC Education Network.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.