II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1485 

To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband 

internet access coverage data, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 15, 2019 

Mr. MANCHIN (for himself and Mr. GARDNER) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile 

broadband internet access 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) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administra2 tion’’ means the National Telecommunications and 

3 Information Administration. 

4 (2) BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE.— 

5 The term ‘‘broadband internet access 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, but excluding dial-up internet access serv13 ice; 

14 (B) includes any service that the Commis15 sion finds to be providing a functional equiva16 lent of the service described in subparagraph 

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

18 forth in part 8 of title 47, Code of Federal Reg19 ulations, or any successor thereto; and 

20 (C) does not include dial-up internet access 

21 service. 

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

23 means the Federal Communications Commission. 


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•S 1485 IS

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

2 any individual or entity that uses a broadband inter3 net access service. 

4 (5) FIXED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS

5 SERVICE.—The term ‘‘fixed broadband internet ac6 cess service’’ means— 

7 (A) a broadband internet access service 

8 that serves end users primarily at fixed 

9 endpoints using stationary equipment; and 

10 (B) includes fixed wireless services, includ11 ing fixed unlicensed wireless services, and fixed 

12 satellite services. 

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

14 information systems. 

15 (7) MOBILE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS

16 SERVICE.—The term ‘‘mobile broadband internet ac17 cess service’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘com18 mercial mobile service’’ in section 332(d)(1) of the 

19 Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)(1)). 

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

21 BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS COVERAGE. 

22 (a) STANDARDIZED METHODOLOGY RULE.— 

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

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

25 in coordination with the National TelecommuniVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485

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1 cations and Information Administration, shall pro2 mulgate a final rule to establish a standardized 

3 methodology for collecting and mapping accurate 

4 fixed and mobile broadband internet access service 

5 coverage data in the United States, which shall— 

6 (A) ensure that coverage data for fixed 

7 and mobile broadband internet access services 

8 is collected in a standardized, consistent, and 

9 robust manner; 

10 (B) improve the validity and reliability of 

11 coverage data; 

12 (C) increase the efficiency of coverage data 

13 collection; 

14 (D) contain standard definitions for dif15 ferent speed tiers, such as the 2G, 3G, 4G, and 

16 4G LTE tiers and the equivalent for fixed 

17 broadband internet access service; 

18 (E) ensure that the collection and valida19 tion process occurs on a regular basis; and 

20 (F) establish a standardized ongoing vali21 dation process and public feedback mechanism 

22 that will allow for consumers, State and local 

23 officials, and carriers to submit data to the 

24 Commission to verify coverage data from carVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485

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1 riers and challenge any areas they feel are mis2 represented. 

3 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating the 

4 rule required under paragraph (1), the Commission 

5 shall consider— 

6 (A) coordinating with the United States 

7 Postal Service, other Federal delivery fleet vehi8 cles, and the Bureau of the Census for assist9 ance with data collection and the feasibility of 

10 using more granular address level data; and 

11 (B) creating 1 centralized national map 

12 with multiple layers, including a layer each for 

13 fixed broadband internet access service and mo14 bile broadband internet access service, which 

15 shall be used in determining eligibility for all 

16 Federal broadband internet access grant, loan, 

17 and subsidy programs. 

18 (3) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—The Com19 mission shall establish an Office of Broadband Data 

20 Collection and Mapping within the Commission to 

21 serve as the central point of collection, aggregation, 

22 and validation of data collected under the standard23 ized methodology established under this subsection. 

24 (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administration shall es2 tablish a technical assistance program under which 

3 the Administration shall provide grants to State and 

4 local entities, such as regional planning organiza5 tions, to— 

6 (A) assist with mapping and the develop7 ment of a GIS-based map of existing service8 ability for fixed and mobile broadband internet 

9 access service; and 

10 (B) assess current broadband internet ac11 cess service adoption rates and advertised 

12 broadband internet access service pricing in the 

13 community. 

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

15 subsection— 

16 (A) shall be used to participate in the 

17 standardized ongoing validation process and 

18 public feedback mechanism described in sub19 section (a)(1)(F); and 

20 (B) may be used to purchase GIS software 

21 and for technical assistance with that software. 

22 (3) OTHER USES FOR GIS SOFTWARE.—A re23 gional planning organization may use GIS software 

24 acquired using funds received under this subsection 


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1 for other purposes in addition to broadband internet 

2 access service mapping. 

Æ 


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