Amends existing law to revise the definition of broadband.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 675 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO BROADBAND; AMENDING SECTION 40-517, IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE A DEF-2 INITION AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY3 AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.4

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:5

SECTION 1. That Section 40-517, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby6 amended to read as follows:7 40-517. DEFINITIONS. As used in sections 40-515 through 40-520, Idaho8 Code:9 (1) "Broadband" means wide bandwidth communication transmissions10 allowing capable of providing high-speed services, such as internet access11 with an ability to simultaneously transport multiple signals and traffic12 types at a minimum transmission speed of one hundred (100) megabits per sec-13 ond for downloads and twenty (20) megabits per second for uploads.14 (2) "Broadband infrastructure" means networks of deployed telecommu-15 nications equipment, conduit, and technologies necessary to provide broad-16 band and other advanced telecommunications services to wholesalers or end17 users, including but not limited to private homes, businesses, commercial18 establishments, schools, or and public institutions.19 (3) "Broadband provider" means any entity that:20 (a) Provides broadband services, including but not limited to a21 telecommunications provider, cable service provider, broadband22 provider, cellular provider, political subdivision that provides23 broadband services, electric cooperative that provides broadband24 services, electric utility that provides broadband services, state25 government entity that provides broadband services, tribal government26 that provides broadband services, or internet service provider; or27 (b) Builds broadband infrastructure, including but not limited to a28 port, nonprofit organization, or private-public partnership estab-29 lished for the purpose of expanding broadband in the state.30 (4) "Department" means the Idaho transportation department.31 (5) "Dig Once Policy once policy" means a policy or practice that mini-32 mizes the number and scale of excavations or construction and costs when in-33 stalling broadband infrastructure in highway rights-of-way.34 (6) "Highway" means a road that is part of the state highway system.35 (7) "Longitudinal access" means access to or use of any part of a right-36 of-way of a highway that extends generally parallel to the right-of-way for a37 total of one hundred (100) or more linear feet.38

SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby39 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after40 July 1, 2026.41