II 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4750 

To assist Tribal entities in deploying broadband using the 2.5 GHz spectrum 

band. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 

Mr. HEINRICH introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To assist Tribal entities in deploying broadband using the 

2.5 GHz spectrum band. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Internet Development 

5 for Tribes Act of 2020’’. 

6 SEC. 2. USE OF 2.5 GHZ SPECTRUM BAND BY TRIBAL ENTI7 TIES. 

8 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

9 (1) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal 

10 Communications Commission; 


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1 (2) the term ‘‘covered license’’ means a license 

2 acquired in the Rural Tribal Priority Window; 

3 (3) the term ‘‘covered licensee’’ means the hold4 er of a covered license; and 

5 (4) the term ‘‘Rural Tribal Priority Window’’ 

6 means the priority filing window for Tribal entities 

7 to obtain licenses for spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band 

8 established in the Report and Order in the matter 

9 of Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band adopted by the 

10 Commission on July 10, 2019 (FCC 19–62). 

11 (b) PRESERVATION OF TRIBAL LICENSES.—The 

12 Commission may not— 

13 (1) impose any build-out or performance re14 quirement on a covered licensee; or 

15 (2) cancel or terminate a covered license if a 

16 covered licensee fails to meet any construction or 

17 performance benchmark. 

18 (c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—At the request of a covered 

20 licensee, the Commission shall provide technical as21 sistance and guidance regarding the most effective 

22 use of the 2.5 GHz band for wireless and broadband 

23 services, including with respect to— 

24 (A) infrastructure acquisition and develop25 ment; 


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1 (B) digital literacy services; 

2 (C) managerial best practices; and 

3 (D) how to expedite the deployment of 

4 broadband. 

5 (2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.—The 

6 Commission shall award technical assistance grants 

7 to covered licensees, on a competitive basis, to obtain 

8 assistance in identifying financial resources, improv9 ing broadband functions, increasing digital literacy, 

10 and acquiring professional consultation related to 

11 use of the 2.5 GHz band. 

12 (d) EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION GRANTS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall award 

14 grants to covered licensees, on a competitive basis, 

15 for the acquisition of appropriate equipment and 

16 services related to use of the 2.5 GHz band, includ17 ing— 

18 (A) appropriate backhaul infrastructure 

19 and edge devices; 

20 (B) educational equipment, such as lap21 tops; 

22 (C) installment of equipment (other than 

23 educational equipment) or required permitting 

24 and right-of-way services; and 


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1 (D) any other type of equipment or service 

2 identified by the Commission in consultation 

3 with the Office of Native Affairs and Policy of 

4 the Commission and the Native Nations Com5 munications Task Force. 

6 (2) DURATION OF GRANT.—A grant awarded 

7 under paragraph (1) shall be for a period of 2 years. 

8 (3) APPLICATION.—Not later than 1 year after 

9 the date of enactment of this Act, a covered licensee 

10 seeking a grant under paragraph (1) shall submit an 

11 application to the Commission in such manner, and 

12 containing such information, as the Commission may 

13 require. 

14 (4) CONSULTATION.—In developing the grant 

15 program under this subsection, including criteria for 

16 applications under paragraph (3), the Commission 

17 shall consult with the Office of Native Affairs and 

18 Policy of the Commission and the Native Nations 

19 Communications Task Force. 

20 (e) SURPLUS EQUIPMENT.— 

21 (1) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

22 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comp23 troller General of the United States shall assess and 

24 submit to Congress a report on whether the Federal 


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1 Government possesses any surplus equipment that 

2 can be used to access the 2.5 GHz band. 

3 (2) TRANSFER TO FCC.—If the Comptroller 

4 General finds under paragraph (1) that the Federal 

5 Government possesses surplus equipment that can 

6 be used to access the 2.5 GHz band— 

7 (A) each Federal agency that is found to 

8 have such surplus equipment shall transfer the 

9 equipment to the Commission; and 

10 (B) the Commission shall distribute the 

11 equipment to covered licensees to aid the licens12 ees in deploying broadband service using the 

13 2.5 GHz band. 

14 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

15 authorized to be appropriated to the Commission— 

16 (1) $25,000,000 for technical assistance grants 

17 under subsection (c)(2); and 

18 (2) $100,000,000 for equipment acquisition 

19 grants under subsection (d). 

Æ 


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