(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
The ability of the people in all parts of this state to access the internet, also known asthe information superhighway, is an important component in the ability of the state to remain competitive in the fields of business and education as well as the ability of government to provide services to these people both now and in the future; and
A disparity currently exists in the state between the ability of people living in urbanareas and people living in rural areas to access the internet because of a lack of adequate technology, infrastructure, and advance telecommunications service in rural areas.
(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that it is the policy of the state, in order to provide incentives for private businesses to invest in the infrastructure needed to improve the ability of the people living in rural areas to access the internet, to establish a program to provide a tax incentive to enterprises that provide such infrastructure in designated areas to be known as rural technology enterprise zones.
Source: L. 98: Entire article added, p. 695, § 1, effective May 18.