Internet and Universal Service Act of 2006 - Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide advanced telecommunications infrastructure investment incentives to telecommunications carriers to invest in and deploy network facilities necessary to provide broadband service and broadband voice service to people in rural, insular, and high-cost areas.
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each eligible telecommunications carrier (a common carrier eligible for federal universal service support) to offer, in addition to other services, throughout its service area: (1) an approved affordable calling plan comparable to that offered by the eligible telecommunications carrier that is the incumbent local exchange carrier for such service area; (2) such services functions as are required of the incumbent eligible telecommunications carrier for such service area so as to protect customers and promote public health, safety, and welfare, including the quality and reliability of telecommunications services; and (3) such services substantially over its own facilities and commit to use any support received to achieve facilities-based coverage of the entire service area within two years of it being designated as eligible.
Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of federal universal service support payable to an eligible telecommunications carrier.
Requires each eligible telecommunications carrier receiving federal universal service support to certify annually to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it is using such support in compliance with service requirements, including for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of facilities and services for which such support is intended.
Revises provisions to require the FCC in administering federal universal service funding mechanisms and developing a contribution methodology for federal universal service support for rural, insular, and highcost areas to ensure that such mechanisms preserve and advance universal service and enable access to advanced telecommunications infrastructure and broadband services. Requires providers of broadband services (currently, only telecommunications providers) to contribute to federal universal service funding mechanisms. Requires contributions be non-discriminatory among all providers (including broadband service providers).
Sets forth provisions requiring: (1) each telecommunications carrier to identify network traffic it transmits so that a terminating carrier can identify, measure, and charge for such traffic; (2) the appointment of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) as permanent Administrator of universal service support mechanisms established under this Act (including oversight authority over the Schools and Libraries Program); and (3) each telecommunications carrier (or other provider of communications services), upon receiving a request, to provide telecommunications services to health care providers in rural areas at a discounted rate that is 25% of the lowest rate available in the state (currently, must charge a rate that is reasonably comparable to rate charged for similar services in urban areas of the state).
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2256 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2256
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure the availability to
all Americans of high-quality, advanced telecommunications and
broadband services, technologies, and networks at just, reasonable, and
affordable rates, and to establish a permanent mechanism to guarantee
specific, sufficient, and predictable support for the preservation and
advancement of universal service, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 8, 2006
Mr. Burns introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure the availability to
all Americans of high-quality, advanced telecommunications and
broadband services, technologies, and networks at just, reasonable, and
affordable rates, and to establish a permanent mechanism to guarantee
specific, sufficient, and predictable support for the preservation and
advancement of universal service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Internet and Universal Service Act
of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The concept that all Americans, no matter where they
live, should have access to high-quality communication services
at affordable rates has been a hallmark of Federal policy for
over a century.
(2) A national communication and information policy must
foster innovation, encourage investment, create jobs, improve
productivity, and increase consumer benefits.
(3) A national policy is needed to accelerate the private
sector deployment of advanced communication infrastructure to
all Americans as rapidly as possible.
(4) The preservation and advancement of universal service
is a fundamental goal of the Communications Act of 1934 and the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, and must remain the foundation
of future communications policy.
(5) Maintaining a sustainable universal service fund
requires recipients to be accountable for how support is used.
(6) Universal service support mechanisms should be used to
support the deployment and advancement of a robust
communications infrastructure so all Americans can enjoy new
and exciting communication services regardless of where they
live or the technology used.
(7) Any universal service support funding mechanism should
be equitable, nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral, and
ensure affordable communications services for all Americans.
(8) Universal service support should be used to provide
incentives for continued investment into the public network and
to increase the availability of broadband service to all
Americans.
(9) Since 1998 the Federal Communications Commission has
committed more than $13,000,000,000 to help schools and
libraries acquire Internet and telecommunications services.
(10) Recently allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse have
surfaced, and as steward of the Schools and Libraries Program,
the Federal Communications Commission must ensure that
participants use program funds appropriately.
(11) Promoting telemedicine helps link rural health care
facilities to urban medical centers.
(12) Many people in remote communities would not have
access to health care without use of the Internet, an important
issue in rural communities since many lack a physician.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to develop a national
telecommunications and information policy that fosters innovation,
encourages investment, creates jobs, improves productivity, and
increases consumer benefits by--
(1) ensuring that the United States becomes a world leader
in broadband deployment by ensuring that consumers have access
to high-capacity broadband services and facilities;
(2) updating and advancing the definition of universal
service to ensure appropriate incentives through the Federal
universal service support fund are used to accelerate the
deployment of advanced communications and information services
and technologies, including broadband services, for the benefit
of all Americans;
(3) eliminating economic and technical barriers to
investment by eligible telecommunications carriers in rural and
high-cost areas, as contemplated in section 706 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 157 note);
(4) targeting universal service support specifically to
high cost areas to ensure that communications services and
broadband facilities are made available throughout all of the
States in a fair and equitable manner;
(5) ensuring universal service support contributions and
distributions are--
(A) assessed and distributed in a fair, equitable,
and competitively neutral manner; and
(B) based upon a methodology to assess
contributions that effectuates the principles
referenced in this Act;
(6) guaranteeing the integrity the methods used to
calculate and distribute universal service support in a manner
consistent with sections 214 and 254 of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214 and 254);
(7) ensuring that all providers that use the network and
facilities of another provider fully compensate each provider
for the use of its network and facilities;
(8) ensuring the integrity of the Schools and Libraries
Program to deter waste, fraud, and abuse, by strengthening the
Federal Communications Commission's management and oversight,
including imposing sanctions on applicants and vendors who
repeatedly and knowingly violate significant program rules; and
(9) improving the effectiveness of the Rural Health Care
Program.
SEC. 3. ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
INCENTIVES.
(a) Removal of Barriers to Advanced Infrastructure Investment.--
Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 157 note)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Advanced Telecommunications Infrastructure Investment
Incentives.--The Commission shall ensure that eligible
telecommunications carriers have sufficient incentives, through the use
of Federal universal service support mechanisms, to invest and deploy
network facilities necessary to provide broadband service and broadband
voice service for the benefit of all Americans in rural, insular, and
high-cost areas.''.
(b) Effectuation of Investment Incentives.--
(1) Rulemaking.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Federal
Communications Commission shall complete a rulemaking
to define advanced telecommunications infrastructure
and broadband service.
(B) Required content.--In the rulemaking required
under subparagraph (A), the definition of advanced
telecommunications infrastructure and broadband service
shall include--
(i) network facilities and capabilities
that enable 2-way transmission of information
using Internet protocol or any successor
protocol, and the associated capabilities and
functionalities, services, and applications
provided over an Internet protocol platform or
for which an Internet protocol capability is an
integral component; and
(ii) service facilities and equipment and
applications that enable an end-user to receive
communications in Internet protocol format,
regardless of whether the such communications
are voice, data, video, or any other form at a
download receiving rate of not lower than 1
megabit per second.
(2) Advanced telecommunications capability rulemaking.--Not
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and
every 3 years thereafter, the Federal Communications Commission
shall complete a study to review the definition of advanced
telecommunications infrastructure and broadband service, as
such term is defined under the rulemaking required in paragraph
(1), taking into account prevailing standards of technical and
economic feasibility and acceptance in the marketplace.
(3) Deployment of next generation networks.--Not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3
years thereafter, the Federal Communications Commission shall
complete a study to identify economic and technical barriers to
the deployment of next generation advanced telecommunications
and information networks, services, and technologies, including
high-capacity transmission and distribution networks capable of
delivering 20 megabytes per second capacity, for the benefit of
all Americans in rural, insular, and high-cost areas.
SEC. 4. ENSURING INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF
UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
(a) Controlling the Growth of Universal Service Support.--Section
214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (E);
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by inserting the following after subparagraph
(A):
``(B) offer any calling plan, approved by the
State, as meeting the definition of affordable service,
at rates, terms, and conditions comparable to those
offered by the eligible telecommunications carrier that
is the incumbent local exchange carrier for such
service area;
``(C) offer such services and perform such
functions as may be required of the eligible
telecommunications carrier that is the incumbent local
exchange carrier for such service area under applicable
Federal and State law to protect customers and promote
public health, safety, and welfare, including promoting
the quality and reliability of the telecommunications
services and infrastructure of the nation;
``(D) offer such services substantially over its
own facilities, excluding unbundled network elements,
and further commit to use any support received to
achieve facilities-based coverage of the entire service
area within 2 years of such date of designation; and'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in the second sentence, by striking ``, in the
case of an area served by a rural telephone company,
and shall, in the case of all other areas,''; and
(B) in the last sentence, by striking ``for an area
served by a rural telephone company''; and
(3) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
``(5) Service area defined.--
``(A) In general.--The term `service area' means
the entire study area of an incumbent local exchange
carrier for which such carrier is designated as an
eligible telecommunications carrier.
``(B) Limitation on size.--No carrier may be
designated an eligible telecommunications carrier under
this section for any area smaller than the entire study
area of an incumbent local exchange carrier.''.
(b) Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation Discipline.--
(1) In general.--Section 214(e) of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(7) Calculation of support.--
``(A) In general.--The Commission shall calculate
the amount of support payable to any eligible
telecommunications carrier based on a prior showing of
the actual costs of providing, maintaining, and
upgrading of facilities and services in the service
area for which such support is intended of each such
carrier.
``(B) Election.--An eligible telecommunications
carrier may elect to have the Commission calculate the
amount of support payable to it on the basis of the
forward looking costs of such carrier.''.
(2) Rulemaking.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall complete a
rulemaking to implement section 214(e)(7) of the Communications
Act of 1934, including establishing competitively neutral
criteria for demonstrating actual costs as required by such
section for eligible telecommunications carriers not currently
submitting cost data under subparagraph (B) of such section.
(c) Oversight of Use of Universal Service Support.--Section 254 of
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(m) Accountability of Eligible Telecommunications Carriers.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission shall require each
eligible telecommunications carrier receiving support under
this section to certify annually to the Commission that such
carrier is using such support in compliance with subsection (e)
and section 214(e), including establishing with specificity
that such support is being used for the provision, maintenance,
and upgrading of facilities and services for which such support
is intended.
``(2) Competitively neutral criteria.--The Commission shall
establish competitively neutral criteria for the annual
certifications described in paragraph (1) that impose
substantially similar burdens of substantiation on each
eligible telecommunications carrier.''.
(d) Effective Date; Transition Period for Authorized Eligible
Telecommunications Carriers.--
(1) In general.--This section and the amendments made by
this section shall take effect on the expiration of the date
which is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Compliance with this section for carriers already
designated as eligible.--
(A) Compliance required.--Each telecommunications
carrier designated as an eligible telecommunications
carrier under section 214(e) of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)) prior to the date of
enactment of this Act shall comply with the provisions
of this section on or after the date described in
paragraph (1).
(B) Penalty for noncompliance.--Any
telecommunications carrier designated as an eligible
telecommunications carrier under section 214(e) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)) prior to
the date of enactment of this Act, who fails to comply
with the provisions of subparagraph (A) shall have such
designation revoked by the Commission.
SEC. 5. STABILIZATION OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUNDING.
(a) Ensuring an Equitable Contribution Base for Universal
Service.--
(1) In general.--Section 254(d) of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(d)) is amended to read as follows:
``(d) Universal Service Support Contributions.--
``(1) Administration of universal service programs.--In
administering Federal universal service funding mechanisms, and
developing a contribution methodology for support for rural,
insular, and high cost areas the Commission shall ensure--
``(A) that Federal universal service funding
mechanisms are specific, predictable, and sufficient--
``(i) to preserve and advance universal
service and to enable access to advanced
telecommunications infrastructure and broadband
services, as that term is defined under section
3(b)(1) of the Internet and Universal Service
Act of 2006; and
``(ii) to effectuate the principles set
forth in subsection (b); and
``(B) that contributions to such funding mechanisms
are specific, predictable, and sufficient to sustain
the funding of networks used to preserve and advance
universal service.
``(2) Non-discriminatory contribution mechanism.--
``(A) In general.--Each provider of
telecommunications, broadband service, or broadband
voice service shall contribute to the Federal universal
service funding mechanisms established under this
section.
``(B) Requirements.--The Commission shall ensure
that the contributions required under subparagraph (A)
shall be--
``(i) equitable and non-discriminatory
among different types of providers;
``(ii) applied as broadly as possible to
all types of providers; and
``(iii) competitively and technologically
neutral, excluding no class of providers from
the obligation to contribute.
``(3) De minimis exception.--The Commission may exempt a
provider of telecommunications, broadband service, or broadband
voice service or any class of such providers from the
requirements of this subsection if the communications
activities of such provider are limited to such an extent that
the level of contributions of such provider to the preservation
and advancement of universal service would be de minimis.
``(4) Contribution assessment flexibility.--
``(A) In general.--The Commission may employ any
methodology to assess contributions to effectuate the
principles referenced in this section, including--
``(i) revenues;
``(ii) working telephone numbers; or
``(iii) any other current or successor
identifier protocols or connections to the
network.
``(B) Use of more than 1 methodology.--If no 1
methodology employed under subparagraph (A) effectuates
the principles described under this subsection, the
Commission may employ a combination of any such
methodologies.
``(C) Revenue based methodology.--Notwithstanding
paragraph (2)(B)(ii), if the Commission determines that
a revenues based methodology, by itself or in
combination with another methodology or methodologies,
effectuates the principles described under this
subsection, the Commission may assess the interstate,
intrastate, and international revenues of a provider of
telecommunications, broadband service, or broadband
voice service.
``(D) Limitation.--Nothing in this subsection
precludes a State from establishing funding mechanisms
to preserve and advance universal service within that
State pursuant to subsection (f).
``(5) Non-discriminatory eligibility requirement.--A
provider of telecommunications, broadband service, or broadband
voice service is not exempted from the requirements of this
subsection solely on the basis that such provider is not
eligible to receive support under this section.
``(6) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of the Internet and Universal Service Act of 2006,
the Commission shall complete a rulemaking proceeding to
effectuate the provisions of this subsection.
``(7) Billing statement.--A contributor to universal
service mechanisms under this section shall--
``(A) be entitled, but not required, to place on
any bill of a customer a separate line item charge that
does not exceed the percentage that such contributor is
required to contribute under this section; and
``(B) label such line item charge `Federal
Universal Service Fee'.
``(8) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Broadband service.--The term `broadband
service' means any service used for transmission of
information of a user's choosing with a transmission
speed of at least 200 kilobits per second in at least 1
direction, regardless of the transmission medium or
technology employed, for a fee directly--
``(i) to the public; or
``(ii) to such classes of users as to be
effectively available directly to the public,
including--
``(I) digital subscriber line
service;
``(II) cable modem service;
``(III) spectrum based broadband
service; or
``(IV) any service providing such
transmission speed that uses advanced
telecommunications capability, as that
term is defined in section 706(c) of
the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
``(B) Broadband voice service.--The term `broadband
voice service' means a 2-way voice service used for
transmission of information of a user's choosing that
is--
``(i) interconnected with a public switched
network; or
``(ii) transmitted, in whole or in part,
over the Internet, as that term is defined in
section 231(e)(3), or over any successor
protocol.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 254(b)(4) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(b)(4)) is amended by
striking ``telecommunications services'' and inserting
``telecommunications, broadband service, or broadband voice
service''.
(b) Proper Accounting of Universal Service Contributions.--
(1) From all budgets.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the receipts and disbursements of the universal service
contributions collected by the Federal Communications
Commission under section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934
(47 U.S.C. 254) shall not be counted as new budget authority,
outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for purposes of--
(A) the budget of the United States Government as
submitted by the President;
(B) the congressional budget;
(C) the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985; or
(D) any other statute requiring budget sequesters.
(2) Additional exemptions.--Section 1341, subchapter II of
chapter 15, and sections 3302, 3321, 3322, and 3325 of title
31, United States Code, shall not apply to the--
(A) collection and receipt of universal service
contributions, including the interest earned on such
contributions; or
(B) disbursement or other obligation of such
contributions authorized by the Commission under
section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 254).
(c) Effective Date.--This section, and the amendments made by this
section, shall apply to all universal service contribution obligations
due on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 6. NETWORK TRAFFIC ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS.
(a) Network Traffic Identification Accountability Rules.--Section
251 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 251) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(j) Identification of Traffic.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date
of enactment of the Internet and Universal Service Act of 2006,
the Commission shall issue and adopt rules to require each
carrier to properly identify the traffic that such carrier
originates or transmits in such a manner as to enable a
terminating carrier to properly identify, measure, and charge
for such traffic.
``(2) Required content.--
``(A) Transmission rules.--Any rule adopted under
paragraph (1) shall require all carriers--
``(i) originating traffic to transmit
information identifying the originating
carrier, jurisdiction, and party from which
such traffic originates;
``(ii) to transmit such identifying
information without alteration or deletion;
``(iii) except originating carriers to
transmit records identifying the originating
carrier; and
``(iv) to route traffic in accordance with
the local exchange routing guide established by
the industry to ensure traffic is routed on
trunk groups appropriate to the jurisdictional
status of such carrier.
``(B) Alternate routing arrangements.--In
fulfilling any requirement under subparagraph (A), a
carrier may, if approved in writing by the terminating
carrier, use alternate routing arrangements.
``(C) Process rules.--Notwithstanding subparagraph
(A), any rule adopted under paragraph (1) shall also
require the Commission to establish--
``(i) an expedited informal complaint
process for the enforcement of such rule; and
``(ii) such remedies as may be appropriate
to be imposed on carriers found to be in
violation of such rule.
``(D) Available remedies.--A remedy described under
subparagraph (C)(ii) may include--
``(i) the imposition of damages in
accordance with section 209;
``(ii) the imposition of a forfeiture in
accordance with section 501;
``(iii) permitting the terminating carrier
that receives telecommunications traffic not
accompanied by the information required in this
subsection to bill the carrier that delivered
the traffic to the terminating carrier the
charges that would have applied if the
Commission finds that the failure of such
carrier to provide such information caused or
contributed to the inability of the terminating
carrier to bill the proper carrier; or
``(iv) such other remedy as the Commission
determines appropriate.
``(3) Definition of carrier.--As used in this section, the
term `carrier' means any telecommunications carrier including
any broadband, broadband voice, CMRS provider, and any other
entity that directly or indirectly obtains telephone numbers,
or any successor identifier, from the numbering administrator,
or any successor administrator, established under this
section.''.
(b) Separations Freeze.--All separations allocations for
telecommunications carriers authorized under section 410(c) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 410(c)) shall be frozen until
such time as the Commission completes a rulemaking under this
subsection establishing a comprehensive system of intercarrier
compensation for all telecommunications and information services
carried on the network of more than 1 carrier.
SEC. 7. ENSURING INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE SCHOOLS AND
LIBRARIES PROGRAM.
Title IV of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 401 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 417. UNIVERSAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR.
``(a) Appointment of USAC as Permanent Administrator.--The
Universal Service Administrative Company is appointed the permanent
Administrator of the universal service support mechanisms established
under section 254.
``(b) Oversight.--The Administrator shall be subject to oversight
by the Commission.
``(c) Duties of the Administrator.--The Commission shall define the
duties and responsibilities of the Administrator.
``(d) Accountability and Enforcement.--The Commission, in
consultation with the Administrator, shall--
``(1) ensure the integrity and accountability of all
programs established under section 254(h); and
``(2) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of the Internet and Universal Service Act of 2006, establish
rules--
``(A) identifying appropriate fiscal controls and
accountability standards that apply to the Schools and
Libraries Program under section 254(h);
``(B) including a memorandum of understanding, or
including contractual relationships, as the Commission
determines appropriate, defining the administrative
structure and processes by which the Universal Service
Administrative Company administers the Schools and
Libraries Program under section 254(h);
``(C) creating performance goals and measures for
the Schools and Libraries Program under section 254(h),
such goals and measures shall be used by the Commission
to determine--
``(i) how efficiently and cost-effectively
funds are spent in supporting the
telecommunications needs of schools and
libraries; and
``(ii) areas for improved operations; and
``(D) establishing appropriate enforcement actions,
including imposition of sanctions on applicants and
vendors who repeatedly and knowingly violate program
rules set forth in section 254(h), such as debarment
from the program for individuals convicted of crimes or
held civilly liable for actions taken in connection
with the Schools and Libraries Program.''.
SEC. 8. IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS OF RURAL HEALTH CARE SUPPORT MECHANISM.
Section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 2549h))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(A) Health care providers for rural areas.--
``(i) Discounts.--A telecommunications
carrier, or other provider of communications
services shall, upon receiving a bona fide
request, provide telecommunications services
which are necessary for the provision of health
care services in a State, including instruction
relating to such services, to any public or
nonprofit health care provider in that State at
a discounted rate that is 25 percent of the
lowest rate available in that State.
``(ii) Limitation.--The discount required
under clause (i) shall be available only to a
public or nonprofit health care provider
located in a rural area.
``(iii) Definition.--For purposes of this
subparagraph, the term `rural area' means--
``(I) any incorporated or
unincorporated area in the United
Sates, or in the territories or insular
possession of the United States,
including any area within the Federated
States of Micronesia, the Republic of
the Marshall Islands, and the Republic
of Palau, that has not more than 20,000
inhabitants based on the most recent
available population statistics
published in the most recent decennial
census issued by the Census Bureau;
``(II) any area located outside the
boundaries of any incorporated or
unincorporated city, village, or
borough that has more than 20,000
inhabitants based on the most recent
available population statistics
published in the most recent decennial
census issued by the Census Bureau; or
``(III) any area that qualified as
a rural area under the rules of the
Commission in effect on December 1,
2004.''; and
(2) in paragraph (7)--
(A) in clause (vi), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon; and
(B) by striking clause (vii) and inserting the
following:
``(vii) not-for-profit nursing homes or
skilled nursing facilities;
``(viii) critical access hospitals;
``(ix) emergency medical services
facilities;
``(x) hospice providers;
``(xi) rural dialysis facilities;
``(xii) tribal health clinics;
``(xiii) not-for-profit dental offices;
``(xiv) school health clinics;
``(xv) residential treatment facilities;
``(xvi) consortia of health care providers
consisting of 1 or more entities described in
clauses (i) through (xv); and
``(xvii) any other entity the Commission
determines--
``(I) eligible to receive
discounted telecommunications service
under paragraph (1)(A); and
``(II) essential to the health,
education, or safety of the public.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S866-867)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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