1. I. There is hereby established within the department of business and economic affairs a wireless deployment grant initiative, the purpose of which shall be to award grants to wireless providers in order to improve wireless connectivity within municipalities and across the state.
2. II. Eligible projects shall provide wireless infrastructure in areas unserved by or lacking consistent mobile wireless coverage.
3. III. Eligible projects shall be evaluated as part of a competitive process.
4. IV. Selected projects shall meet the needs of consumers with the lowest possible cost and highest possible functionality.
5. V. Projects under construction at the time of application shall be ineligible.
6. VI. Projects that have been awarded funding, but not yet built shall be ineligible. This includes projects for which a provider is already obligated to deploy wireless service pursuant to regulatory or other legally enforceable commitment.
7. VII. Funding shall be awarded for no more than one project in any proposed coverage area.

Source. 2022, 231:2, eff. Aug. 16, 2022.