II 

Calendar No. 567 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 1046 

[Report No. 116–274] 

To establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 4, 2019 

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. JONES, Mr. JOHNSON, 

Ms. BALDWIN, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Ms. SINEMA, Ms. ROSEN, and Mr. 

PETERS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

OCTOBER 1, 2020 

Reported by Mr. WICKER, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, 

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 ‘‘Advancing Critical 

5 Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, 


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1 Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need 

2 and Demand Act’’ or the ‘‘ACCESS BROADBAND Act’’. 

3 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the 

6 meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, 

7 United States Code. 

8 (2) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist9 ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 

10 Commerce for Communications and Information. 

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

12 means the Federal Communications Commission. 

13 (4) FEDERAL BROADBAND SUPPORT PRO14 GRAM.—The term ‘‘Federal broadband support pro15 gram’’ does not include any Universal Service Fund 

16 program and means any of the following programs 

17 (or any other similar Federal program) to the extent 

18 the program offers broadband internet service or 

19 programs for promoting broadband access and adop20 tion for various demographic communities through 

21 various media for residential, commercial, or com22 munity providers, or academic establishments: 

23 (A) The Telecommunications and Tech24 nology Program of the Appalachian Regional 

25 Commission. 


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1 (B) The following programs of the Rural 

2 Utilities Service of the Department of Agri3 culture: 

4 (i) The Telecommunications Infra5 structure Loan and Loan Guarantee Pro6 gram. 

7 (ii) The Rural Broadband Access 

8 Loan and Loan Guarantee Program au9 thorized under section 601 of the Rural 

10 Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 

11 950bb). 

12 (iii) The Substantially Underserved 

13 Trust Area Initiative. 

14 (iv) The Community Connect Grant 

15 Program established under title III of the 

16 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 

17 Drug Administration, and Related Agen18 cies Appropriations, 2004 (division A of 

19 Public Law 108–199; 118 Stat. 19). 

20 (v) The Distance Learning and Tele21 medicine Grant Program under section 

22 2333 of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva23 tion, and Free Trade Act of 1990 (7 

24 U.S.C. 950aaa–2). 


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1 (C) The following programs of the Eco2 nomic Development Administration of the De3 partment of Commerce: 

4 (i) The Public Works and Economic 

5 Adjustment Assistance Programs. 

6 (ii) The Planning and Local Technical 

7 Assistance Programs. 

8 (D) The following programs of the Depart9 ment of Housing and Urban Development: 

10 (i) The Community Development 

11 Block Grant Program under title I of the 

12 Housing and Community Development Act 

13 of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). 

14 (ii) The loan guarantee program 

15 under section 108 of the Housing and 

16 Community Development Act of 1974 (42 

17 U.S.C. 5308) (commonly known as the 

18 ‘‘Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program’’). 

19 (iii) Assistance from the Public Hous20 ing Capital Fund established under section 

21 9(d) of the United States Housing Act of 

22 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)). 

23 (iv) Assistance from the Public Hous24 ing Operating Fund established under secVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Oct 02, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S1046.RS S1046

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1 tion 9(e) of the United States Housing Act 

2 of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e)). 

3 (v) The Multifamily Housing Pro4 grams. 

5 (vi) The Indian Community Develop6 ment Block Grant Program. 

7 (vii) The Indian Housing Block Grant 

8 Program under section 101 of the Native 

9 American Housing Assistance and Self-De10 termination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4111). 

11 (viii) Loan guarantees under title VI 

12 of the Native American Housing Assist13 ance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 

14 (25 U.S.C. 4191 et seq.) (commonly known 

15 as the ‘‘Title VI Loan Guarantee Pro16 gram’’). 

17 (ix) The Choice Neighborhoods Initia18 tive. 

19 (x) The HOME Investment Partner20 ships Program authorized under title II of 

21 the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 

22 Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.). 

23 (xi) The Housing Trust Fund estab24 lished under section 1338 of the Federal 


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1 Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and 

2 Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568). 

3 (xii) The Housing Opportunities for 

4 Persons With AIDS Program authorized 

5 under the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act 

6 (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.). 

7 (E) The American Job Centers of the Em8 ployment and Training Administration of the 

9 Department of Labor. 

10 (F) The Library Services and Technology 

11 Grant Programs of the Institute of Museum 

12 and Library Services. 

13 (5) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Of14 fice of Internet Connectivity and Growth established 

15 under section 3. 

16 (6) UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND PROGRAM.—The 

17 term ‘‘Universal Service Fund program’’ means any 

18 program authorized under section 254 of the Com19 munications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) to help de20 ploy broadband. 

21 (7) UNIVERSAL SERVICE MECHANISM.—The 

22 term ‘‘universal service mechanism’’ means any 

23 funding stream provided by a Universal Service 

24 Fund program to support broadband access. 


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1 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF INTERNET 

2 CONNECTIVITY AND GROWTH. 

3 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

4 of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish the Of5 fice of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the Na6 tional Telecommunications and Information Administra7 tion. 

8 SEC. 4. DUTIES. 

9 (a) OUTREACH.—The Office shall— 

10 (1) connect with communities that need access 

11 to high-speed internet and improved digital inclusion 

12 efforts through various forms of outreach and com13 munication techniques; 

14 (2) hold regional workshops across the United 

15 States to share best practices and effective strategies 

16 for promoting broadband access and adoption; 

17 (3) develop targeted broadband training and 

18 presentations for various demographic communities 

19 through various media; and 

20 (4) develop and distribute publications (includ21 ing toolkits, primers, manuals, and white papers) 

22 providing guidance, strategies, and insights to com23 munities as the communities develop strategies to 

24 expand broadband access and adoption. 

25 (b) TRACKING OF FEDERAL DOLLARS.— 


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1 (1) BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Of2 fice shall track the construction and use of and ac3 cess to any broadband infrastructure built using any 

4 Federal support in a central database. 

5 (2) ACCOUNTING MECHANISM.—The Office 

6 shall develop a streamlined accounting mechanism 

7 by which any agency offering a Federal broadband 

8 support program, and the Commission through the 

9 Universal Service Fund, shall provide the informa10 tion described in paragraph (1) in a standardized 

11 and efficient fashion. 

12 (3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

13 date of enactment of this Act, and every year there14 after, the Office shall make public on the website of 

15 the Office and submit to the Committee on Com16 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

17 and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 

18 House of Representatives a report on the following: 

19 (A) A description of the work of the Office 

20 for the previous year and the number of resi21 dents of the United States who received 

22 broadband access as a result of a Federal 

23 broadband support program or a Universal 

24 Service Fund program. 


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1 (B) The number of residents of the United 

2 States described in subparagraph (A), broken 

3 down by the Federal broadband support pro4 gram or universal service mechanism to which 

5 the broadband access was attributable. 

6 (C) An estimate of the economic impact of 

7 the broadband deployment efforts described in 

8 subparagraphs (A) and (B) on the local econ9 omy in areas receiving assistance through those 

10 efforts, including any effect on small businesses 

11 or jobs. 

12 SEC. 5. STREAMLINED APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT. 

13 (a) AGENCY CONSULTATION.—The Office shall con14 sult with any agency offering a Federal broadband support 

15 program to streamline and standardize the application 

16 process for grants or other financial assistance from the 

17 program. 

18 (b) AGENCY STREAMLINING.—Any agency offering a 

19 Federal broadband support program shall amend the ap20 plication for broadband support from that program, to the 

21 extent practicable and as necessary, to streamline and 

22 standardize applications for Federal broadband support 

23 programs across the Federal Government. 

24 (c) SINGLE APPLICATION.—To the greatest extent 

25 practicable, the Office shall seek to create 1 application 


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1 that may be submitted to apply for all, or substantially 

2 all, Federal broadband support programs. 

3 (d) WEBSITE REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 

4 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Office shall 

5 create a central website through which a potential appli6 cant can learn about and apply for support through any 

7 Federal broadband support program. 

8 SEC. 6. COORDINATION OF SUPPORT. 

9 The Office, any agency that offers a Federal 

10 broadband support program, and the Commission, 

11 through the Universal Service Fund, shall coordinate with 

12 each other to ensure that Federal support for broadband 

13 is being distributed in an efficient, technology-neutral, and 

14 financially sustainable manner, with the goal of serving 

15 the largest number of persons in the United States while 

16 avoiding overbuilding and promoting the most job and eco17 nomic growth for all residents of the United States. 

18 SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

19 Nothing in this Act is intended to alter or amend any 

20 provision of section 254 of the Communications Act of 

21 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254). 

22 SEC. 8. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED. 

23 No additional funds are authorized to be appro24 priated to carry out this Act. This Act shall be carried 

25 out using amounts otherwise authorized. 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advancing Critical 

3 Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, 

4 Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need 

5 and Demand Act’’ or the ‘‘ACCESS BROADBAND Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the mean9 ing given that term in section 551 of title 5, United 

10 States Code. 

11 (2) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist12 ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of Com13 merce for Communications and Information. 

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

15 means the Federal Communications Commission. 

16 (4) FEDERAL BROADBAND SUPPORT PROGRAM.— 

17 The term ‘‘Federal broadband support program’’ does 

18 not include any Universal Service Fund program and 

19 means any of the following programs (or any other 

20 similar Federal program) to the extent the program 

21 offers broadband internet service or programs for pro22 moting broadband access and adoption for various de23 mographic communities through various media for 

24 residential, commercial, or community providers, or 

25 academic establishments: 


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1 (A) The Telecommunications and Tech2 nology Program of the Appalachian Regional 

3 Commission. 

4 (B) The following programs of the Rural 

5 Utilities Service of the Department of Agri6 culture: 

7 (i) The Telecommunications Infra8 structure Loan and Loan Guarantee Pro9 gram established under the Rural Elec10 trification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et 

11 seq.). 

12 (ii) Any program to provide grants, 

13 loans, or loan guarantees under sections 601 

14 through 603 of the Rural Electrification Act 

15 of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb et seq.). 

16 (iii) The substantially underserved 

17 trust area initiative under section 306F of 

18 the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 

19 U.S.C. 936f). 

20 (iv) The Community Connect Grant 

21 Program established under section 604 of 

22 the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 

23 U.S.C. 950bb–3). 

24 (v) The distance learning and tele25 medicine grant program established under 


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1 chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XXIII of the 

2 Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 

3 Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.). 

4 (vi) The broadband loan and grant 

5 pilot program known as the ‘‘Rural 

6 eConnectivity Pilot Program’’ or the ‘‘Re7 Connect Program’’ authorized under section 

8 779 of division A of the Consolidated Ap9 propriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115– 

10 141; 132 Stat. 399). 

11 (C) The following other programs of the De12 partment of Agriculture: 

13 (i) Community facility direct and 

14 guaranteed loans under section 306(a) of 

15 the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop16 ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)). 

17 (ii) Community facility grants under 

18 paragraph (19), (20), or (21) of section 

19 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 

20 Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)). 

21 (iii) The Rural Community Develop22 ment Initiative authorized under the head23 ing ‘‘RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES PRO24 GRAM ACCOUNT’’ under the heading ‘‘RURAL

25 HOUSING SERVICE’’ under title III of diviVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Oct 02, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1046.RS S1046

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1 sion B of the Consolidated Appropriations 

2 Act, 2019 (Public Law 116–6; 133 Stat. 

3 62). 

4 (D) The following programs of the Eco5 nomic Development Administration of the De6 partment of Commerce: 

7 (i) The Public Works and Economic 

8 Adjustment Assistance Programs. 

9 (ii) The Planning and Local Technical 

10 Assistance Programs. 

11 (E) The following programs of the Depart12 ment of Housing and Urban Development: 

13 (i) The Community Development Block 

14 Grant Program under title I of the Housing 

15 and Community Development Act of 1974 

16 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). 

17 (ii) The loan guarantee program under 

18 section 108 of the Housing and Community 

19 Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5308) 

20 (commonly known as the ‘‘Section 108 Loan 

21 Guarantee Program’’). 

22 (iii) Assistance from the Public Hous23 ing Capital Fund established under section 

24 9(d) of the United States Housing Act of 

25 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)). 


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1 (iv) Assistance from the Public Hous2 ing Operating Fund established under sec3 tion 9(e) of the United States Housing Act 

4 of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e)). 

5 (v) The Multifamily Housing Pro6 grams. 

7 (vi) The Indian Community Develop8 ment Block Grant Program. 

9 (vii) The Indian Housing Block Grant 

10 Program under section 101 of the Native 

11 American Housing Assistance and Self-De12 termination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4111). 

13 (viii) Loan guarantees under title VI 

14 of the Native American Housing Assistance 

15 and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 

16 U.S.C. 4191 et seq.) (commonly known as 

17 the ‘‘Title VI Loan Guarantee Program’’). 

18 (ix) The Choice Neighborhoods Initia19 tive. 

20 (x) The HOME Investment Partner21 ships Program authorized under title II of 

22 the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 

23 Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.). 

24 (xi) The Housing Trust Fund estab25 lished under section 1338 of the Federal 


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1 Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and 

2 Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568). 

3 (xii) The Housing Opportunities for 

4 Persons With AIDS Program authorized 

5 under the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act 

6 (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.). 

7 (F) The American Job Centers of the Em8 ployment and Training Administration of the 

9 Department of Labor. 

10 (G) The Library Services and Technology 

11 Grant Programs of the Institute of Museum and 

12 Library Services. 

13 (5) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Office 

14 of Internet Connectivity and Growth established 

15 under section 3. 

16 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF INTERNET 

17 CONNECTIVITY AND GROWTH. 

18 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

19 of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish the Office 

20 of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National 

21 Telecommunications and Information Administration. 

22 SEC. 4. DUTIES. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.— The Office shall— 

24 (1) connect with communities that need access to 

25 high-speed internet and improved digital inclusion efVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Oct 02, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S1046.RS S1046

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1 forts through various forms of outreach and commu2 nication techniques; 

3 (2) hold regional workshops across the United 

4 States to share best practices and effective strategies 

5 for promoting broadband access and adoption; 

6 (3) develop targeted broadband training and 

7 presentations for various demographic communities 

8 through various media; 

9 (4) develop and distribute publications (includ10 ing toolkits, primers, manuals, and white papers) 

11 providing guidance, strategies, and insights to com12 munities as the communities develop strategies to ex13 pand broadband access and adoption; and 

14 (5) as applicable in carrying out paragraphs (1) 

15 through (4), cooperate with State agencies that pro16 vide similar broadband investments, outreach, and co17 ordination through Federal programs. 

18 (b) RELATION TO CURRENT BROADBAND ACTIVITIES

19 OF NTIA.—The Assistant Secretary shall assign to the Of20 fice all activities performed by the National Telecommuni21 cations and Information Administration as of the date of 

22 enactment of this Act that are similar to the activities re23 quired to be conducted by the Office under this Act. 


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1 SEC. 5. STREAMLINED APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT. 

2 (a) AGENCY CONSULTATION.—The Office shall consult 

3 with any agency offering a Federal broadband support pro4 gram to streamline and standardize the application process 

5 for grants or other financial assistance from the program. 

6 (b) AGENCY STREAMLINING.—Any agency offering a 

7 Federal broadband support program shall amend the appli8 cation for broadband support from that program, to the ex9 tent practicable and as necessary, to streamline and stand10 ardize applications for Federal broadband support pro11 grams across the Federal Government. 

12 (c) SINGLE APPLICATION.—To the greatest extent 

13 practicable, the Office shall seek to create 1 application that 

14 may be submitted to apply for all, or substantially all, Fed15 eral broadband support programs. 

16 (d) WEBSITE REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 

17 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Office shall create 

18 a central website through which a potential applicant can 

19 learn about and apply for support through any Federal 

20 broadband support program. 

21 SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

22 Nothing in this Act is intended to alter or amend any 

23 provision of section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 

24 (47 U.S.C. 254). 


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1 SEC. 7. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED. 

2 No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated 

3 to carry out this Act. This Act shall be carried out using 

4 amounts otherwise authorized. 


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Calendar No. 567 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 1046 

[Report No. 116–274] 

A BILL 

To establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and 

Growth, and for other purposes. 

OCTOBER 1, 2020 

Reported with an amendment 


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