I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4128 

To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband 

internet service coverage data, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 30, 2019 

Mr. LUJA ́N (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of 

Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile 

broadband internet service coverage data, and for other 

purposes. 

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 ‘‘Map Improvement Act 

5 of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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1 (1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist2 ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 

3 Commerce for Communications and Information. 

4 (2) BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.—The 

5 term ‘‘broadband internet service’’— 

6 (A) means mass-market retail service by 

7 wire or radio that provides the capability to 

8 transmit data to and receive data from all or 

9 substantially all internet endpoints, including 

10 any capabilities that are incidental to and en11 able the operation of the communications serv12 ice; 

13 (B) includes any service that the Commis14 sion finds to be providing a functional equiva15 lent of the service described in subparagraph 

16 (A) or that is used to evade the protections set 

17 forth in part 8 of title 47, Code of Federal Reg18 ulations, or any successor thereto; and 

19 (C) does not include dial-up internet serv20 ice. 

21 (3) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

22 means the Federal Communications Commission. 

23 (4) END USER.—The term ‘‘end user’’ means 

24 any individual or entity that uses a broadband inter25 net service. 


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1 (5) FIXED BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.— 

2 The term ‘‘fixed broadband internet service’’ 

3 means— 

4 (A) a broadband internet service that 

5 serves end users primarily at fixed endpoints 

6 using stationary equipment; and 

7 (B) includes fixed wireless services, includ8 ing fixed unlicensed wireless services, and fixed 

9 satellite services. 

10 (6) GIS.—The term ‘‘GIS’’ means geographic 

11 information systems. 

12 (7) MOBILE BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.— 

13 The term ‘‘mobile broadband internet service’’ shall 

14 have the meaning given such term by the Commis15 sion for purposes of this Act. 

16 (8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each 

17 State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 

18 each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 

19 United States, and each federally recognized Indian 

20 Tribe. 

21 SEC. 3. COLLECTION AND MAPPING OF FIXED AND MOBILE 

22 BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE COVERAGE. 

23 (a) STANDARDIZED METHODOLOGY RULE.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

25 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, 


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1 in coordination with the Assistant Secretary, shall 

2 promulgate a final rule to establish a standardized 

3 methodology for collecting and mapping accurate 

4 fixed broadband internet service and mobile 

5 broadband internet service coverage data in the 

6 United States, which shall— 

7 (A) ensure that coverage data for fixed 

8 broadband internet service and mobile 

9 broadband internet service is collected in a 

10 standardized, consistent, and robust manner; 

11 (B) improve the validity and reliability of 

12 coverage data; 

13 (C) increase the efficiency of coverage data 

14 collection; 

15 (D) contain standard definitions for dif16 ferent speed tiers, such as the 2G, 3G, 4G, and 

17 4G LTE tiers and the equivalent for fixed 

18 broadband internet service; 

19 (E) ensure that the collection and valida20 tion process occurs on a regular basis; and 

21 (F) establish a standardized ongoing vali22 dation process and public feedback mechanism 

23 that will allow for consumers, State and local 

24 officials, and broadband internet service pro25 viders to submit data to the Commission to 


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1 verify coverage data from broadband internet 

2 service providers and challenge any aspects of 

3 such data believed to be inaccurate. 

4 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating the 

5 rule required under paragraph (1), the Commission 

6 shall consider— 

7 (A) coordinating with the Postmaster Gen8 eral, the heads of other Federal agencies that 

9 operate delivery fleet vehicles, and the Director 

10 of the Bureau of the Census for assistance with 

11 data collection and the feasibility of using more 

12 granular address level data; and 

13 (B) creating 1 centralized national map 

14 with multiple layers, including a layer each for 

15 fixed broadband internet service and mobile 

16 broadband internet service, which may be used 

17 in determining eligibility for all Federal 

18 broadband internet service grant, loan, and sub19 sidy programs. 

20 (3) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—The Com21 mission shall establish an Office of Broadband Data 

22 Collection and Mapping within the Commission to 

23 serve as the central point of collection, aggregation, 

24 and validation of data collected under the standard25 ized methodology established under this subsection. 


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1 (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary 

3 shall establish a technical assistance program under 

4 which the Assistant Secretary shall provide grants to 

5 State and local entities, such as regional planning 

6 organizations, to— 

7 (A) assist such entities with mapping and 

8 the development of a GIS-based map of existing 

9 fixed broadband internet service and mobile 

10 broadband internet service; and 

11 (B) assess current broadband internet 

12 service adoption rates and advertised broadband 

13 internet service pricing in the community. 

14 (2) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds received under this 

15 subsection— 

16 (A) shall be used to— 

17 (i) carry out the activities described in 

18 subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph 

19 (1); and 

20 (ii) participate in the standardized on21 going validation process and public feed22 back mechanism described in subsection 

23 (a)(1)(F); and 

24 (B) may be used to purchase GIS software 

25 and for technical assistance with that software. 


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1 (3) OTHER USES FOR GIS SOFTWARE.—A 

2 grantee may use GIS software acquired using funds 

3 received under this subsection for other purposes in 

4 addition to broadband internet service mapping. 

Æ 


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