A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT appropriating funds to the e‑nc authority to support connectivity initiatives and to advance technology‑based economic development throughout the state.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.   Operations, Research, and Coordination. – Under Session Law 2003‑425, the e‑NC Authority has a mandate to be the Internet planning and policy body for the State. Therefore, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the e‑NC Authority the additional sum of five hundred five thousand dollars ($505,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year to continue its operational, advocacy, and research functions and assistance to communities for broadband deployment. These funds will be in addition to the four hundred seventy‑five thousand two hundred dollars ($475,200) the Authority currently receives from recurring funding from the State budget. These funds will allow the e‑NC Authority to continue its efforts statewide in all 100 counties, serving as the primary advocate in North Carolina for universal high‑speed Internet access deployment and the economic growth potential possible through expanded broadband, through continuation of the e‑NC Authority's operations and its work on technology‑based economic development to create jobs in North Carolina. 
Since its inception, the e‑NC Authority has received three million twenty‑one thousand seven hundred five dollars ($3,021,705) in State operating support, creating an economic impact of more than three billion dollars ($3,000,000,000) (using the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis metrics) in its work to increase broadband access.  It has seen more than 1,906 jobs directly created through the e‑NC Business and Technology Telecenters (BTTs) since 2002. In addition to the three billion dollar-impact, the local community impact by the BTTs has been more than two hundred twenty‑six million dollars ($226,000,000) in direct revenue impact on the economy of the seven counties where the BTTs are located.
SECTION 2.  Connectivity Incentive Grants:  State, Federal, and Foundations. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the e‑NC Authority the sum of twelve million five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year to be used to make broadband access available to unserved and underserved households in communities in all 100 counties. These funds shall be granted through a formal request for proposals (RFP) process with a provider match required when appropriate.  Up to four percent (4%) of this connectivity funding may be designated for grant administration.  In addition, these funds may be used by the Authority to assist community, public, private, and nonprofit entities that need to provide a match to receive broadband deployment, adoption, and use funds from any federal grants or the federal broadband stimulus monies available from the federal government or from other foundation grants.
SECTION 3.   This act becomes effective July 1, 2010.