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Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Ways and Means - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 04/02/2024

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

On Tuesday, Rep. Peterson offered an amendment to H.657 in House Ways & Means and House Energy & Environment, to offer more protections to phone company copper lines that might be affected by the bill’s Right of Way charges on internet service providers (twisted pair copper lines would be exempt under the amendment, as opposed to coaxial cable or fiber optic lines). The amendment was found unfavorable by HWM (7-2-3) and HEE (10-1-1), but they did decide to offer a new, separate floor amendment in the House to change an instance of wording in the bill, to clarify language that the Right of Way fee is charged on all physical infrastructure (changing “DSL,” which is a service, to “twisted pair copper,” which denotes the physical lines). The HWM vote on this change was favorable 9-0-3.

H.657 Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Stebbins%20Amendment~3-26-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Committee on Appropriations - Review of VAN FY25 Request 04/02/2024

Review of VAN FY25 Request at the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

On Tuesday, Chair of House Appropriations, Representative Lanpher, was in the Senate Appropriations Committee to give an overview of the House passed version of the budget. During her overview, Chair Lanpher noted VAN as a “good thing” in the budget. Later in the meeting, Chair Kitchel said she wanted to get a better idea of what VAN “actually needs” and whether the $1million in one-time actually covers it on not.

Senator Bernie Sanders: Discussion with Vermont Seniors on the Older American Act 03/28/2024

Bernie Sanders: 'Discussion with Vermont Seniors on the Older American Act'

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - Discussion of S.55 Update to Open Meeting Law 03/28/2024

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

On Thursday, the House Government Operations and Military Affairs committee took testimony from Senator Hardy who gave an introduction to the bill. Representative Hango was concerned about small towns and the negative affect this bill could have on them - the committee will have a formal walkthrough of the bill sometime next week from legislative counsel.

S.55: As Passed by the Senate:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/BILLS/S-0055/S-0055%20As%20Passed%20by%20the%20Senate%20Unofficial.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Floor - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/28/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees on the House Floor.

Late on Thursday, H.657 was on the House Floor for presentation and debate, which lasted about an hour. Rep. Sims presented the bill, and 3rd reading was ordered for Friday on a voice vote. The main opposition to the bill came from Rep. Art Peterson, who asked a number of questions about different provisions in it. One topic in particular he wanted to know about was about pole attachments - where in the bill they were mentioned, how inventoried or assessed or taxed, etc. Rep. Sims clarified he might be referring to a previous iteration of the bill, in which there was a pole attachment fee intended to support the Vermont Access Network. She noted that the fee is now per linear foot, and there is nothing about pole attachments in the bill. On Friday, action on the bill was postponed until next week. 

H.657 Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Stebbins%20Amendment~3-26-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Floor - Discussion of VAN FY25 Request 03/28/2024

Discussion of VAN FY25 Request onthe House Floor.

The FY25 Budget passed the House Thursday and it includes a one-time appropriation for VAN through the Secretary of State’s office of $1 million.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Floor - Discussion of S. 181 Community Media Public Benefit Bill 03/28/2024

Discussion of the Community Media Public Benefit Bill S.181 on the Senate Floor.

On Thursday, Sen. Chittenden presented S.181 on the Senate Floor for 2nd reading, the next-to-last step in passing the bill. Senate Finance and Senate Appropriations both urged the Senate to pass the bill. Senators asked questions about how much money would go to VAN; why it was going through the Secretary of State’s Office, since currently no General Fund dollars go there; how many people in Vermont are accessing public television; and what the shortfall is in AMO revenue. Senate President Pro Temp Baruth spoke about his deep appreciation for community access television and asked for the body’s support, and Sen. Kitchel spoke about the rationale for VAN’s funding flowing through the Secretary of State’s office as part of a broader effort around civic education and electoral participation. The Senate then ordered a 3rd reading of the bill on a unanimous voice vote.

S.181 Senate Finance version of the bill:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Appropriations/Bills/S.181/S.181~Kirby%20Keeton~As%20Recommended%20By%20the%20Senate%20Committee%20on%20Finance~3-20-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Ways and Means - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/26/2024

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

On Tuesday, Rep. Gabrielle Stebbins presented an amendment from the House Energy & Environment Committee to H.657, the telecommunications modernization bill that originated in House Ways & Means. The amendment would make changes to the Right of Way fees that are assessed to communication service providers (CSPs) who make use of poles and pole attachments in the State Right of Way. Utility companies and VELCO would be exempt. CSPs would be required to submit an inventory of poles, pole attachments, and linear footage of lines they use, annually, and pay fees associated for the same that would go into the Transportation Fund. HWM voted favorably on the amendment 10-0-2.

H.657 Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Stebbins%20Amendment~3-26-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Appropriations - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/22/2024

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

On Friday, the House Appropriations committee voted H.657 out of committee with an amendment that fully funds the $150k ask - both the amendment and the bill were voted favorably 12-0-0. Links to the amendment and the vote are below.

H.657: HAC Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Appropriations/Bills/H.657/H.657~Maria%20Royle~HAC%20Amendment~3-22-2024.pdf

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Environment and Energy - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/21/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Committee on Environment and Energy.

On Thursday, the committee briefly revisited the amendment.

H.657: Right of Way Proposed Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Environment/Bills/H.657/Drafts,%20Amendments,%20Legal%20Documents/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Right%20of%20Way%20Proposed%20Amendment~3-20-2024.pdf

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