BILL 20

Highway Cellular Coverage Act

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:

Definitions

1 The following definitions apply in this Act.

“Fund” means the Highway Cellular Coverage Fund established in section 2. (Fonds)

“highway” means a highway as defined in the Highway Act. (route)

Highway Cellular Coverage Fund

2 Subject to section 6, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure shall establish a fund to be known as the Highway Cellular Coverage Fund.

Purpose of Fund

3 The purpose of the Fund is to support the expansion of cellular telephone coverage along provincial and provincial-municipal highways to ensure that adequate cellular telephone coverage is available along highways throughout the Province.

Use of assets of Fund

4 The assets of the Fund shall be used to support cellular infrastructure projects that will enhance existing cellular telephone coverage and provide coverage in areas where it is currently inadequate.

Regulations

5 The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may make regulations

(a)  prescribing projects for the purposes of section 4;

(b)  establishing target dates for enhancing cellular telephone coverage along New Brunswick highways;

(c)  respecting payments out of the Fund;

(d)  respecting any matter the Lieutenant-Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out effectively the purpose of this Act.

Appropriation required

6 The money required for the purpose of this Act shall be paid out of money appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose and nothing in this Act affects the appropriation or expenditure of money not appropriated for that purpose.

Commencement

7 This Act or any provision of it comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.