Broadband Interagency Coordination Act of 2019
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Department of Agriculture to enter into an interagency agreement to coordinate the distribution of federal funds for new broadband deployment.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4283 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4283
To require Federal agencies with jurisdiction over broadband deployment
to enter into an interagency agreement related to certain types of
funding for broadband deployment.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 11, 2019
Mr. Pence (for himself and Mr. Visclosky) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and
in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 require Federal agencies with jurisdiction over broadband deployment
to enter into an interagency agreement related to certain types of
funding for broadband deployment.
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 ``Broadband Interagency Coordination
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means--
(A) the Federal Communications Commission;
(B) the Department of Agriculture; and
(C) the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration.
(2) High-cost programs.--The term ``high-cost programs''
means--
(A) the programs for Universal Service Support for
High-Cost Areas set forth under subpart D of part 54 of
title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
thereto;
(B) the Remote Areas Fund set forth under subpart J
of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or
any successor thereto;
(C) the Interstate Common Line Support Mechanism
for Rate-of-Return Carriers set forth under subpart K
of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or
any successor thereto;
(D) the Mobility Fund set forth under subpart L of
part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or
any successor thereto; and
(E) the High Cost Loop Support for Rate-of-Return
Carriers program set forth under subpart M of part 54
of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor thereto.
(b) Interagency Agreement.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the head of each covered agency shall enter
into an interagency agreement requiring coordination between the
covered agencies for the distribution of funds for broadband deployment
under--
(1) the high-cost programs;
(2) the programs administered by the Rural Utilities
Service of the Department of Agriculture; and
(3) the programs administered by the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration.
(c) Requirements.--In entering into an interagency agreement with
respect to the programs described in subsection (b), the head of each
covered agency shall--
(1) require that the covered agencies share information
with each other about existing or planned projects that have
received or will receive funds under the programs described in
subsection (b) for new broadband deployment;
(2) provide that--
(A) subject to subparagraph (B), upon request from
another covered agency with authority to award or
authorize any funds for new broadband deployment in a
project area, a covered agency shall provide the other
covered agency with any information the covered agency
possesses regarding, with respect to the project area--
(i) each entity that provides broadband
service in the area;
(ii) levels of broadband service provided
in the area, including the speed of broadband
service and the technology provided;
(iii) the geographic scope of broadband
service coverage in the area; and
(iv) each entity that has received or will
receive funds under the programs described in
subsection (b) to provide broadband service in
the area; and
(B) if a covered agency designates any information
provided to another covered agency under subparagraph
(A) as confidential, the other covered agency shall
protect the confidentiality of that information;
(3) designate the Federal Communications Commission as the
entity primarily responsible for--
(A) coordinating among the covered agencies; and
(B) storing or maintaining access to all broadband
deployment data;
(4) consider basing the distribution of funds for broadband
deployment under the programs described in subsection (b) on
standardized data regarding broadband coverage; and
(5) provide that the interagency agreement shall be updated
periodically, except that the scope of the agreement with
respect to the Federal Communications Commission may not expand
beyond the high-cost programs.
(d) Assessment of Agreement.--
(1) Public comment.--Not later than 1 year after entering
into the interagency agreement required under subsection (b),
the Federal Communications Commission shall seek public comment
on--
(A) the effectiveness of the interagency agreement
in facilitating efficient use of funds for broadband
deployment;
(B) the availability of Tribal, State, and local
data regarding broadband deployment and the inclusion
of that data in interagency coordination; and
(C) modifications to the interagency agreement that
would improve the efficacy of interagency coordination.
(2) Assessment; report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications
Commission shall--
(A) review and assess the comments received under
paragraph (1); and
(B) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a
report detailing any findings and recommendations from
the assessment conducted under subparagraph (A).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 Communications and Technology.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H7758)
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
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