As used in this chapter, "qualified broadband provider" means any company, firm, corporation, partnership, or association that, at the time of submission of a grant application under this chapter:

1. (1) either:

   1. (A) has been providing broadband service to at least one hundred (100) residences and businesses in Indiana for at least three (3) consecutive years; or

   2. (B) is:

      1. (i) a corporation organized under IC 8-1-13 ; or

      2. (ii) a corporation organized under IC 23-17 that is an electric cooperative and that has at least one (1) member that is a corporation organized under IC 8-1-13 ;

         that provides or will provide, alone or in conjunction with one (1) or more other legal entities, broadband service within the corporation's electric service territory; and

2. (2) has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the office:

   1. (A) financial;
   2. (B) technical; and

   3. (C) operational;

      capability in building and operating a broadband network.

As added by P.L.177-2018, SEC.5.