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On November 30, 2020, the Colorado General Assembly convened for an extraordinary session aimed at providing additional pandemic relief. Of the nearly 40 bills that were introduced, 10 passed. By December 7, 2020, Governor Polis had signed those 10 bills into law. In total, these bills provide approximately $300 million in aid primarily for small businesses and Colorado residents. One bill that passed and two that did not are highlighted below.
House Bill 1001: Grants for Improved Internet Infrastructure Passes
Let’s start with the bill that passed. House Bill 1001 allocates $20 million to improve internet access for Colorado students and educators who are relying in part or entirely on remote learning. The money will be doled out through a grant program and can used to address internet connectively on both a small and large scale. Indeed, the bill allows the grant money to be used for “devices to access the internet” (i.e., computers, modems, routers, etc.), broadband service subscriptions, and data plans. The bill also allows the grant money to be used to “address broadband infrastructure needs in communities in which broadband service is significantly limited or not available.” This latter category provides an opportunity for internet providers to bring better internet infrastructure to rural and underserved areas.