Universal Broadband Act of 2020
This bill expands universal service support, through which the federal government promotes telecommunications service nationwide, to include support for broadband internet access services.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6723 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6723
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify the eligibility of
broadband internet access services for Federal universal service
support, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 5, 2020
Mr. Peterson (for himself, Mr. Young, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Cox of
California, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mr. Lucas, Ms. Craig, Mr. Case, Mr.
Gonzalez of Texas, and Mr. Correa) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify the eligibility of
broadband internet access services for Federal universal service
support, 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 ``Universal Broadband Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT FOR BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS
SERVICES.
(a) Clarification of Eligibility for Support.--
(1) In general.--Section 254(c) of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(c)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(4) Broadband internet access services.--In addition to
the services included in the definition of universal service
under paragraph (1), the Commission shall designate broadband
internet access services as services that are supported by
Federal universal service support mechanisms. In designating
services under this paragraph, the Commission shall ensure that
the services designated are sufficient for the purposes for
which consumers use broadband internet access services, as such
purposes evolve over time.''.
(2) Obligations of eligible telecommunications carriers.--
Section 214(e)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 214(e)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``all of'' after
``offer''.
(b) Contributions to Universal Service.--
(1) Providers of broadband internet access services
required to contribute.--Section 254 of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting ``and all
providers of broadband internet access services'' after
``telecommunications services''; and
(B) in subsection (d)--
(i) in the heading, by striking
``Telecommunications Carrier'';
(ii) in the first sentence, by inserting
``and every provider of broadband internet
access services'' after ``telecommunications
services''; and
(iii) in the second sentence--
(I) by inserting ``, or provider or
class of providers,'' after
``carriers''; and
(II) by inserting ``or provider's''
after ``carrier's'' each place it
appears.
(2) Additional matters relating to universal service
contributions.--Section 254(d) of the Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(d)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``Every telecommunications
carrier'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--Every telecommunications carrier''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Exclusion from contribution base of services provided
to lifeline consumers.--In determining the amount that a
telecommunications carrier or provider of a broadband internet
access service is required to contribute under this subsection,
the Commission shall exclude from the determination any
services provided by such carrier or provider to consumers who
receive services through the Lifeline program of the
Commission.
``(3) Consideration of anticipated funding needs.--
``(A) In general.--In determining the amount of
contributions required under this subsection, the
Commission shall consider forecasts of anticipated
demand for services that are supported by each of the
Federal universal service support mechanisms over
periods that are sufficiently long to allow for
adequate planning, thereby ensuring sufficient and
predictable funding for each such mechanism.
``(B) Prohibition on contribution limit.--The
Commission may not establish any limit on the total
amount of contributions required under this subsection
with respect to all Federal universal service support
mechanisms, except for establishing the amount that
providers are required to contribute with respect to a
particular time period based on the projected demand
for services that are supported by Federal universal
service support mechanisms over such time period.''.
(c) Access in Tribal Areas.--Section 254(b)(3) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(b)(3)) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``Access in rural and high
cost areas'' and inserting ``Access in all regions''; and
(2) by inserting ``Tribal,'' after ``insular,''.
(d) Prohibition on Expenditure Limit.--Section 254 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(m) Prohibition on Expenditure Limit.--The Commission may not
establish any limit on the total amount of funds that may be expended
through all Federal universal service support mechanisms. Nothing in
the preceding sentence shall be construed to prohibit the Commission
from ensuring that funds expended through the Federal universal service
support mechanisms are expended for services eligible for support
through such mechanisms.''.
(e) Consultation Among FCC, NTIA, and USDA.--The Federal
Communications Commission, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Communications and Information, and the Secretary of Agriculture shall,
in administering Federal financial assistance for the deployment of
broadband services, consult with one another regarding the distribution
of such assistance for the deployment of broadband services in rural
areas.
(f) Reporting Requirements.--Section 254 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended by subsection (d), is further amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(n) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 180 days after the
end of each calendar year, the Commission shall submit to Congress a
report that contains the following:
``(1) A statement of the total amount expended in such year
to support broadband internet access services through the
Federal universal service support mechanisms for high-cost
areas.
``(2) A statement of the amount, of the total amount stated
under paragraph (1), expended in each of the following:
``(A) Rural areas.
``(B) Insular areas.
``(C) Tribal areas.
``(D) Areas that, as of the beginning of such year,
were unserved areas, as determined by the Commission.
``(3) A description of progress during such year in
advancing the universal service principles described in
subsection (b) and the requirements for meeting future growth
in the demand for the services that are supported by Federal
universal service support mechanisms, including challenges that
may prevent the advancement of such principles.''.
(g) Broadband Internet Access Service Defined.--Section 254 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsections (d) and (f), is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(o) Broadband Internet Access Service Defined.--In this section,
the term `broadband internet access service'--
``(1) means a mass-market retail service by wire or radio
that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive
data from all or substantially all internet endpoints,
including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable
the operation of the communications service, but excluding
dial-up internet access service; and
``(2) includes any service that the Commission finds to be
providing a functional equivalent of the service described in
paragraph (1).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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