Rural Broadband Initiative Act of 2007 - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish in the Department of Agriculture the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives, to be headed by the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives.
States that the Under Secretary shall: (1) administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, including the rural broadband access loan and loan guarantee program and the community connect grant program; (2) conduct rural outreach; (3) foster development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision; (4) assess relevant technologies; (5) serve as a single information source for all federal rural broadband programs and services; and (6) provide technical assistance to state, regional, and local governments to develop broadband deployment strategies.
Directs the Under Secretary to submit: (1) to the President and to Congress a comprehensive rural broadband strategy report; and (2) to Congress a plan for a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel.
Establishes in the Treasury the National Rural Broadband Innovation Fund.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2174 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2174
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office
of Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Department of Agriculture, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 3, 2007
Mr. Salazar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office
of Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Department of Agriculture, 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 ``Rural Broadband Initiative Act of
2007''.
SEC. 2. OFFICE OF RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVES.
(a) In General.--Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936
(7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 601 as section 603; and
(2) by inserting before section 603 the following:
``SEC. 601. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Office.--The term `Office' means the Office of Rural
Broadband Initiatives established by section 602(a)(1).
``(2) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' means
the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives appointed
under section 602(a)(2).
``SEC. 602. OFFICE OF RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVES.
``(a) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--There is established in the Department
of Agriculture an office to be known as the `Office of Rural
Broadband Initiatives'.
``(2) Under secretary.--The head of the Office shall be the
Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives, who shall--
``(A) be appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate; and
``(B) report directly to the Secretary.
``(b) Responsibilities.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall--
``(A) as of the date of enactment of this section,
administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan
programs previously administered by the Administrator
of the Rural Utilities Service, including--
``(i) the rural broadband access loan and
loan guarantee program established under
section 603; and
``(ii) the Community Connect Grant Program
described in subpart A of part 1739 of title 7,
Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations).
``(2) Requirements.--The Under Secretary shall--
``(A) conduct extensive, nationwide outreach to
rural areas;
``(B) foster the development of a comprehensive
rural broadband strategic vision;
``(C) plan coordination of Federal resources for
State, regional, and local governments to assist
citizens living and working in rural areas;
``(D) assess all relevant technologies (including
WiFi, WIMAX, DSL, cable, satellite, fiber, optical
fiber, and broadband) over power lines, as the
technologies are able to support in whole or in part
rural broadband needs and requirements;
``(E) serve as a single information source for all
rural broadband programs and services administered by
Federal agencies; and
``(F) provide technical assistance to State,
regional, and local governments to develop broadband
deployment strategies.
``(c) Comprehensive Rural Broadband Strategy.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary
shall submit to the President and Congress a report describing
comprehensive rural broadband strategy that includes--
``(A) recommendations--
``(i) to promote interagency coordination
of Federal agencies in regards to policies,
procedures, and targeted resources, and to
improve and streamline the polices, programs,
and services;
``(ii) to coordinate among Federal agencies
regarding existing rural broadband or rural
initiatives that could be of value to rural
broadband development;
``(iii) to address both short- and long-
term solutions and needs assessments for a
rapid build-out of rural broadband solutions
and applications for Federal, State, regional,
and local government policy makers;
``(iv) to identify how specific Federal
agency programs and resources can best respond
to rural broadband requirements and overcome
obstacles that currently impede rural broadband
deployment; and
``(v) to promote successful model
deployments and appropriate technologies being
used in rural areas so that State, regional,
and local governments can benefit from the
cataloging and successes of other State,
regional, and local governments; and
``(B) a description of goals and timeframes to
achieve the strategic plans and visions identified in
the report.
``(2) Updates.--The Under Secretary shall update and
evaluate the report described in paragraph (1) on an annual
basis.
``(d) National Rural Broadband Innovation Fund.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury
of the United States a revolving fund, to be known as the
`National Rural Broadband Innovation Fund' (referred to in this
subsection as the `Fund'), consisting of--
``(A) such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund
under paragraph (5); and
``(B) any interest earned on investment of amounts
in the Fund under paragraph (4).
``(2) Use of fund.--
``(A) In general.--The Under Secretary shall use
the amounts in the Fund to fund experimental and pilot
rural broadband projects and applications, including
WiFi, WIMAX, DSL, cable, satellite, fiber, optical
fiber, and broadband delivery over power lines.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of appointment of the first Under Secretary, the
Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that
describes--
``(i) proposed rules for the administration
of the Fund; and
``(ii) proposed qualification guidelines
for projects to receive funding under this
subsection.
``(3) Expenditures from fund.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), on
request by the Under Secretary, the Secretary of the
Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Under
Secretary such amounts as the Under Secretary
determines are necessary to fund projects under
paragraph (2).
``(B) Administrative expenses.--An amount not
exceeding 10 percent of the amounts in the Fund shall
be available for each fiscal year to pay the
administrative expenses necessary to carry out this
subsection.
``(4) Investment of amounts.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury
shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the
judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to
meet current withdrawals.
``(B) Interest-bearing obligations.--Investments
may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the
United States.
``(C) Acquisition of obligations.--For the purpose
of investments under subparagraph (A), obligations may
be acquired--
``(i) on original issue at the issue price;
or
``(ii) by purchase of outstanding
obligations at the market price.
``(D) Sale of obligations.--Any obligation acquired
by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the
Treasury at the market price.
``(E) Credits to fund.--The interest on, and the
proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any
obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to, and
form a part of, the Fund.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Fund $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2008 through 2012.
``(e) Rural Broadband Advisory Panel.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary
shall submit to Congress a plan to establish a Rural Broadband
Advisory Panel (referred to in this subsection as the `Panel').
``(2) Chairperson.--The Panel shall be chaired by the Under
Secretary or a designee.
``(3) Membership.--The Panel shall be composed of
representatives of--
``(A) State government;
``(B) local government;
``(C) communications equipment vendors (including
broadband data service providers);
``(D) public utility services;
``(E) local exchange carriers;
``(F) wireless carriers;
``(G) satellite communications services; and
``(H) other appropriate public or private sector
entities, as determined by the Under Secretary.
``(4) Meetings.--The Panel shall meet not less than 4 times
each year.
``(5) Duties.--The Advisory Panel shall--
``(A) assist the Under Secretary in updating the
annual report described in subsection (c)(2);
``(B) evaluate the effectiveness of all Federal
broadband assistance programs and policies aimed at
fostering broadband access in rural and underserved
areas;
``(C) evaluate best practices employed at the State
and local government level to foster broadband access
in rural and underserved areas; and
``(D) cooperate with the Under Secretary in
addressing and evaluating issues determined by the
Under Secretary to be critical to fostering broadband
access and connectivity in rural and underserved areas.
``(f) Web-Based Clearinghouse.--The Under Secretary shall establish
a comprehensive and interactive rural broadband Web-based clearinghouse
that describes options, opportunities, resources, successful public-
private partnerships, comprehensive funding sources, and technology
tutorials for rural broadband, including--
``(1) case studies;
``(2) descriptions of best practices;
``(3) assessments of various technology solutions;
``(4) feasibility studies;
``(5) applications, including telework, telemedicine,
distance learning, training, homeland security, senior citizen
connectivity and program development, and business and economic
development;
``(6) rural broadband options and policies analysis; and
``(7) support for networks among rural communities and
economic development agencies.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 603 of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1)) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``Administrator'' and
inserting ``Under Secretary''; and
(2) in subsection (i)--
(A) by striking ``Administrator'' each place it
appears and inserting ``Under Secretary'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(C) by striking ``Not later than'' and inserting
the following:
``(1) In general.--Not later than''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Rules revision.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the
date of appointment of the first Under Secretary, the
Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a revision of
the rules and qualification criteria for the loan and
loan guarantee program under this section.
``(B) Requirements.--In preparing the revision, the
Under Secretary shall--
``(i) emphasize streamlining the
application process and processing time;
``(ii) ensure that the financial
requirements for applicants do not unduly
disqualify applicants that have demonstrated a
viable business plan; and
``(iii) not diminish the mission of the
program to deliver broadband service to
underserved rural areas.''.
SEC. 3. SUFFICIENCY OF RESOURCES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a
report describing the resources and staff necessary to carry out this
Act and the amendments made by this Act.
(b) Preparation of Report.--The Secretary shall provide the Office
of Rural Broadband Initiatives the resources and staff necessary to
carry out this section.
(c) Comptroller General Review.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall review the report submitted under subsection (a)
for validity.
(2) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which
the report is submitted under subsection (a), the Comptroller
General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report
containing the findings of the review under paragraph (1).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research.
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture.
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