Legislative

Testimony of the Community Media Public Benefit Bill S.181 at the Senate Committee on Finance.

On Wednesday, the committee discussed the possibility of a streaming tax rather than a pole attachment tax, per the request of Senator Chittenden. They had legislative counsel in (Kirby Keeten). Senator Chittenden talked about the possibility of a 1% excise tax on streaming, but he didn’t know how much money that would raise. He expressed concern about more taxes for businesses, rather than on the consumers (confusing because the proposal is an excise tax). Senator Cummings talked about the franchise fees and their decline, and then this could be the alternative, but they don’t know how to do it.

S.181 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0181/S-0181%20As%20Introduced.pdf

Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law at the Senate Committee on Government Operations.

On Tuesday, he committee discussed a new draft.

S.55, Draft 3.1:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Government%20Operations/Bills/S.55/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20and%20Legal%20Documents/S.55~Tucker%20Anderson~Draft%203.1,%20Strike%20All%20Amendment~2-13-2024.pdf

Testimony of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Committee on Ways and Means.

On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means walked through H.657, a broad telecommunications modernization bill that covers a variety of topics. Maria Royle, Legislative Counsel, noted that the section of this bill that would have instituted a 1% fee for AMO capital costs, has been removed; and, that the content of H.575, which would create a Community Media Benefit Fund with revenues from a new pole attachment excise tax to fund AMO operational costs, has been incorporated into H.657. Both items are great news! The part of H.657 that VAN opposed has been removed, and the content of H.575, which VAN supports, has now been integrated into H.657. Royle walked through the entire bill, including the Community Media Benefit Fund sections. Then 10 witnesses testified, sharing various points of view about the content of the bill. The general takeaway was this was a solid first hearing in HWM, with much more to come.

H.657 as introduced:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Maria%20Royle~As%20Introduced~1-11-2024.pdf

Testimony on Telecom and Power at the Senate Commitee on Transportation.

On Tuesday, Senate Transportation took testimony on right of ways fees for telecom and power. The fees in statute from Title 19 (passed 1997, amended 2007) say the state shall require payment of fair market value for the use of access to state rights of way by utilities. There is a fee waiver option (less or no fee) for when the State determines it's justified. The State of Vermont has not been collecting these right of way fees at all. The committee is considering sending this matter to finance, but members were definitely interested in the potential Transportation Fund revenue - however, the concern clearly remained about the cost of any fees would end up on broadband consumers, still hindering access but in a different way. 

Rent for Leasing or Licensing State-Owned Property under the Agency’s Jurisdiction:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Transportation/Agency%20of%20Transportation/W~Maria%20Royle~Rent%20for%20Leasing%20or%20Licensing%20State-Owned%20Property%20Under%20the%20Agency's%20Jurisdiction~2-6-2024.pdf