Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly hereby finds and determines that: (a) The development of fast, affordable, and accessible broadband internet service throughout the state will: (I) Drive job creation; (II) Promote innovation; (III) Improve the economic vitality of various industries throughout the state and the state as a whole; and (IV) Expand markets for Colorado businesses; (b) Improved broadband access will help serve the ongoing and growing needs of Colorado's education, health-care, and public safety systems; industries; businesses; governmental operations; and citizens; and (c) Communities in unserved areas of the state need access to broadband to help overcome economic, health-care, education, and government-access inequities arising from their diminished ability to access broadband. (2) The general assembly declares that it is important to create the Colorado broadband office to serve as a central governmental entity to plan and coordinate with other state, public, and private entities and citizens throughout the state to develop and implement statewide broadband deployment and access strategies and programs that seek to advance the goals listed in subsection (1) of this section.