I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4308 

To provide for grants to finance broadband transmission in certain rural 

areas. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 8, 2017 

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico (for herself and Mr. 

O’HALLERAN) 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 provide for grants to finance broadband transmission 

in certain rural areas. 

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 ‘‘Rural Broadband Ex5 pansion Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture (in 

8 this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall make 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4308 IH

1 grants to finance broadband transmission in rural areas 

2 eligible for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program 

3 benefits authorized by section 2331 of the Food, Agri4 culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, and shall 

5 offer assistance to persons interested in applying for the 

6 grants with respect to the grant application process. 

7 (b) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require 

9 any entity receiving a grant under this section to 

10 submit annual reports until 3 years after completion 

11 of the project for which the grant is made, in a for12 mat specified by the Secretary, that describes— 

13 (A) the use by the entity of the grant, in14 cluding new equipment and capacity enhance15 ments that support high-speed broadband ac16 cess for educational institutions, health care 

17 providers, and public safety service providers 

18 (including the estimated number of end users 

19 who are currently using or forecasted to use the 

20 new or upgraded infrastructure); and 

21 (B) the progress towards fulfilling the ob22 jectives for which the grant is made, includ23 ing— 

24 (i) the number and location of resi25 dences and businesses that will receive new 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4308 IH

1 broadband service, existing network service 

2 improvements, and facility upgrades result3 ing from the grant; 

4 (ii) the speed of broadband service; 

5 (iii) the average price of broadband 

6 service in a proposed service area; 

7 (iv) any changes in broadband service 

8 adoption rates, including new subscribers 

9 generated from demand-side projects; and 

10 (v) any other metrics the Secretary 

11 determines to be appropriate. 

12 (2) ADDITIONAL REPORTING.—The Secretary 

13 may require any additional reporting and informa14 tion by any recipient of a grant under this section 

15 so as to ensure compliance with this section. 

16 (c) AUDITS.—The Inspector General, Department of 

17 Agriculture, shall conduct annual audits of the grant pro18 gram provided for in this section, and shall direct the Sec19 retary to implement such recommendations as the Inspec20 tor General finds necessary to ensure that the funds made 

21 available under subsection (f) are used properly and effi22 ciently. 

23 (d) GAO REPORTS.—The Comptroller General of the 

24 United States shall submit to the Secretary annual reports 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4308 IH

1 that assess the progress and level of success of the grant 

2 program provided for in this section. 

3 (e) ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS.—The Sec4 retary shall submit an annual report to the Committee on 

5 Agriculture and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

6 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

7 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee 

8 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

9 on how the grant funds provided under subsection (a) were 

10 used by the recipients, how many households, businesses, 

11 community centers, and critical community facilities re12 ceived broadband service as a result of the grants, in 

13 which regions the broadband service was provided, how 

14 many applications for the grants were denied, and how 

15 many of the grants were provided. 

16 (f) LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA17 TIONS.—To carry out this section, there are authorized 

18 to be appropriated to the Secretary $100,000,000 for each 

19 of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, to remain available 

20 until expended, not less than 90 percent of which shall 

21 be available for grants under subsection (a). 

Æ 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS