C.R.S. § 39-32-101 Short title
39-32-101. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Rural Technology Enterprise Zone Act".
Rural Technology Enterprise Zone Act
C.R.S. tit. 39, art. 32
in effectC.R.S. § 39-32-102 Legislative declaration
39-32-102. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(a) The ability of the people in all parts of this state to access the internet, also known as the 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
(b) A disparity currently exists in the state between the ability of people living in urban areas 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.
C.R.S. § 39-32-103 Needs assessment and inventory - public hearing
39-32-103. Needs assessment and inventory - public hearing. (1) In order to determine the extent to which the internet can be accessed in rural areas of the state, the public utilities commission shall conduct a technology infrastructure needs assessment and inventory in such areas to determine the status of internet access in rural areas. Such needs assessment and inventory shall specifically examine the following:
(a) The need and ability to provide or improve internet access in rural areas in the state;
(b) The existence and identification of any barriers that prevent or reduce internet access in rural areas; and
(c) The types of technology infrastructure, including advanced and emerging technologies, that would improve internet access in rural areas.
(2) After conducting the needs and assessment inventory pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the public utilities commission shall conduct a public hearing on the designation of rural technology enterprise zones pursuant to section 39-32-104. The commission shall provide public notice of such hearing to residents living within any proposed rural technology enterprise zone and to any other interested parties the commission may identify. The commission shall consider any testimony or other evidence presented at such hearing in designating any rural technology enterprise zone pursuant to section 39-32-104.
C.R.S. § 39-32-104 Zones established
39-32-104. Zones established. (1) Based upon the needs and assessment inventory and the evidence received during the public hearing conducted pursuant to section 39-32-103, the public utilities commission may designate rural areas in the state as rural technology enterprise zones. In designating such zones, the commission shall specify by rule, based upon the needs and assessment inventory and the evidence received at the public hearing, the specific technology infrastructure needs of each rural technology enterprise zone and the types of investments that will meet those needs. For each rural technology enterprise zone designated pursuant to this section, the commission shall further specify the following:
(a) The boundaries of the rural technology enterprise zone;
(b) The potential for increasing internet access within the rural technology enterprise zone;
(c) The specific technology infrastructure required to provide adequate internet access within the zone and any unique needs or characteristics of the zone;
(d) The specific investments in technology infrastructure that will qualify for income tax credits in the zone pursuant to section 39-32-105; and
(e) Any other information the commission deems pertinent.
C.R.S. § 39-32-105 Credit against tax - investment in technology infrastructure
39-32-105. Credit against tax - investment in technology infrastructure. (1) There shall be allowed to any person as a credit against the tax imposed by article 22 of this title, for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2005, an amount equal to ten percent of the amount of the total investment made during such years in technology infrastructure required to provide internet access in rural technology enterprise zones. Such credit may be claimed only for specific capital investments in technology infrastructure that will qualify for income tax credits in such zone as specified by the public utilities commission pursuant to section 39-32-104 (1)(d). The credit claimed by a person pursuant to this section shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars in any one tax year.
(2) If the credit allowed under this section exceeds the income taxes otherwise due on the claimant's income, the amount of the credit not used as an offset against income taxes may be carried forward as a tax credit against subsequent years' income tax liability for a period not to exceed ten years and shall be applied first to the earliest years possible.
C.R.S. § 39-32-106 Report to the general assembly
39-32-106. Report to the general assembly. (Repealed)
C.R.S. § 39-32-107 Rules
39-32-107. Rules. The public utilities commission shall promulgate rules necessary for the administration of sections 39-32-103 and 39-32-104. The department of revenue shall promulgate rules necessary for the administration of section 39-32-105. Rules promulgated pursuant to this section shall be promulgated in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-39.docxFetched: 10/6/2026