35-A §9203. ConnectME Authority - Maine Statutes

Title 35-A: PUBLIC UTILITIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 141, PT. A, §6 (NEW)

Part 7: TELECOMMUNICATIONS HEADING: PL 1987, C. 141, PT. A, §6 (NEW)

Chapter 93: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE HEADING: PL 2005, C. 665, §3 (NEW)

§9203. ConnectME Authority

1. Establishment; membership. The ConnectME Authority is established to stimulate investment in advanced communications technology infrastructure in unserved or underserved areas. The authority is created as a body corporate and politic and a public instrumentality of the State. The exercise by the authority of powers conferred by this chapter is considered to be the performance of essential governmental functions. The authority consists of the following 5 voting members:

A. The chair of the Public Utilities Commission or the chair's designee; [2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW).]

B. The Chief Information Officer of the State, or the officer's designee; [2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW).]

C. One representative of consumers, appointed by the Governor; and [2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW).]

D. Two members with significant knowledge of communications technology, appointed by the Governor. [2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW).]

Compensation of members is as provided in Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 33-F.

[ 2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW) .]

2. Terms; chair; vacancies. All members are appointed for 3-year terms. The Governor shall appoint a chair from among the 3 members appointed by the Governor. In the event of a vacancy in the membership, the Governor shall appoint a replacement member for the remainder of that vacated term. Each member of the authority serves until that member's successor is appointed and qualified. Any member of the authority is eligible for reappointment.

[ 2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW) .]

3. Officers; quorum. The authority may elect a secretary and a treasurer, who may, but need not, be members of the authority. Three members of the authority constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of 3 members is necessary for any action taken by the authority.

[ 2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW) .]

4. Participation by members. A member may participate in a meeting of the authority and place a vote electronically or telephonically as long as members of the public have an opportunity to listen to the deliberations of the authority and otherwise participate in or observe the proceedings of the authority consistent with Title 1, section 405.

[ 2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW) .]

5. Indemnification. Each member of the authority must be indemnified by the authority against expenses actually and necessarily incurred by the member in connection with the defense of any action or proceeding in which the member is made a party by reason of being or having been a member of the authority and against any final judgment rendered against the member in that action or proceeding.

[ 2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW) .]

6. Staff. At the request of the authority, the commission or any other state agency with expertise in communications services or advanced communications technology infrastructure shall provide to the authority staff designated by the commission or agency. Staff resources provided by the commission and other agencies may not exceed in total the equivalent of 3 full-time employees. The salaries and costs of such staff must be allocated proportionately to the authority. The authority may retain staff in addition to the staff designated and provided by the commission or other state agencies.

[ 2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW) .]

SECTION HISTORY

2005, c. 665, §3 (NEW).