Section 63N-17-201 - Utah Broadband Center - Creation - Director - Duties(1) There is created within the office the Utah Broadband Center.(2) The executive director shall appoint a director of the broadband center to oversee the operations of the broadband center.(3) The broadband center shall: (a) ensure that publicly funded broadband projects continue to be publicly accessible and provide a public benefit;(b) develop the statewide digital connectivity plan described in Section 63N-17-203;(c) carry out the duties described in Section 63N-17-202;(d) administer the Broadband Access Grant Program in accordance with Part 3, Broadband Access Grant Program; and(e) administer the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Grant Program in accordance with Part 4, Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program.(f) The broadband center shall ensure efficiency with respect to:(i) expenditure of funds; and(ii) avoiding duplication of efforts.(g) The broadband center shall consider administering broadband infrastructure funds in a manner that: (i) efficiently maximizes the leverage of federal funding;(ii) avoids the use of public funds for broadband facilities that duplicate existing broadband facilities that already meet or exceed federal standards; and(iii) accounts for the benefits and costs to the state of existing facilities, equipment, and services of public and private broadband providers.Amended by Chapter 159, 2024 General Session ,§ 41, eff. 5/1/2024.Amended by Chapter 458, 2022 General Session ,§ 3, eff. 3/24/2022.Added by Chapter 282, 2021 General Session ,§ 134, eff. 7/1/2021.Technically renumbered to avoid duplication of section number also enacted in HB217, Chapter 373.