In her third year as chair of the House Communications and Technology Committee, second-term state Rep. Michele Hoitenga continued work to help more people in Michigan gain access to high-speed broadband while striving to cut government red tape.

To cap a year of hearings and pivotal discussions with fellow committee members, Hoitenga oversaw the advancement of a plan allowing for electric cooperatives to expand broadband services. House Bill 4266, sponsored by state Rep. Triston Cole, codifies legal protections for Michigan electric cooperatives to build and expand broadband networks on existing infrastructure and within existing easements. Many cooperatives already have infrastructure in place and will be able to better reach unserved areas.

“Since I began chairing this committee, my priority has been to increase rural broadband services and pursue policy measures that accomplish this,” said Hoitenga, of Manton. “Improved access makes more of our state competitive and attractive to prospective businesses, which helps our state’s economy and overall progress.”

Hoitenga has proposed legislation setting criteria and application requirements for state broadband grants, updating the Michigan Broadband Expansion Act. She also worked to limit government overreach on job providers with her new law dedicated to mandatory 9-1-1 phone upgrades.

Businesses and other entities had been facing a Dec. 31 deadline to update their systems based on suggestions by the Michigan Public Services Commission. Failing to upgrade would have resulted in fines ranging from $500-5,000. House Bill 4249, which became Public Act 30 of 2019, provides some common-sense flexibility rather than relying on an ineffective, one-size-fits-all approach to regulation.

“I look at our laws from an approach of what is working and what isn’t working for our people and our state’s job providers,” Hoitenga said. “Many of these proposals are the result of truly being a representative – hearing people and working with those in these specific fields. I will continue this work and keep listening as we head into the new year.”