Although we addressed many important issues and debated a wide range of topics during the 2018 session, there is one issue that was and remains my priority – broadband access expansion for all Georgians. Throughout the session I updated you on the status of the three pieces of legislation I sponsored to address this very important issue. This legislation has been a long time in the making and I want to commend everyone who came together to work tirelessly while the bills made their way through the legislative process. Of the three pieces of legislation, Senate Bills 232, 402 and 426, I am proud to say that the “Achieving Connectivity Everywhere (ACE) Act”, or SB 402, received final passage and on Monday, May 7, Governor Nathan Deal signed SB 402 into law making the legislation effective on the same day setting up the framework for universal broadband access in Georgia. Under this legislation, the definition of broadband was changed. The level of service for an internet provider receiving grant funds as a result of SB 402 must be increased to a minimum data transmission speed of 25 megabits, up from the current speed of 10 megabits.