A. There is hereby created until June 30, 2028, the Oklahoma Broadband Office, to serve as the state’s sole administrator of the functions, powers, and duties assigned to the Office in the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Act or under law. Effective June 30, 2028, the Office shall terminate and all personnel positions shall be abolished. The Office shall utilize the year prior to the termination date for the purpose of ceasing the Office’s affairs. B. The Office shall receive administrative assistance from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), which shall provide, through existing OMES resources, administrative assistance upon request in writing or electronic correspondence from the Office’s Executive Director. OMES shall provide assistance in the manner requested within thirty (30) days of determination by the Agency that the request is able to be fulfilled. If for any reason the request cannot be fulfilled within thirty (30) days, the Office and OMES shall enter into a written agreement expressing an agreed upon timeline for fulfilling the needs of the Office. In the event that the request cannot be fulfilled, OMES shall respond in writing within ten (10) days of the request providing the reasoning for denial. If the request cannot be fulfilled utilizing existing resources, OMES may charge the Office for the actual cost to fulfill the request. C. The Office shall be governed by the Broadband Governing Board, created pursuant to Section 9202 of this title. D. The Office shall be advised by the Broadband Expansion Council, created pursuant to Section 9203 of this title. E. The Office shall have an Executive Director who shall oversee the operations of the Office including, but not limited to: 1. Overseeing the creation, maintenance, and completion of the Statewide Broadband Plan; 2. Communicating the state’s progress in achieving the goals and implementation of the Statewide Broadband Plan; 3. The creation, housing, and updating of a statewide broadband services map; 4. Overseeing of grant applications and awards for connectivity and affordability projects; 5. Making recommendations to the Board regarding procedural and administrative rules for the Office; and 6. Employment and management of Office staff subject to the limitations and requirements of the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Act and subject to the limitations and requirements of the Broadband Governing Board. F. The Executive Director shall regularly report to the Council and the Board and shall submit an annual report to the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Office of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. G. The Office may hire legal counsel as it is deemed necessary by the hiring entity. The Office shall be subject to the provisions of Section 20i of this title.
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