E-BRIDGE Act

To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to provide for a high-speed broadband deployment initiative. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility Act E-BRIDGE Act 2. High-speed broadband deployment initiative (a) In general Title II of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3141 et seq. 219. High-speed broadband deployment initiative (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Broadband project The term broadband project (A) planning, technical assistance, or training; (B) the acquisition or development of land; or (C) the acquisition, design and engineering, construction, rehabilitation, alteration, expansion, or improvement of facilities, including related machinery, equipment, contractual rights, and intangible property. (2) Eligible recipient (A) In general The term eligible recipient (B) Inclusions The term eligible recipient (i) a public-private partnership; and (ii) a consortium formed for the purpose of providing, extending, expanding, or improving high-speed broadband service between 1 or more eligible recipients and 1 or more for-profit organizations. (3) High-speed broadband The term high-speed broadband (b) Broadband projects (1) In general On the application of an eligible recipient, the Secretary may make grants under this title for broadband projects, which shall be subject to the provisions of this section. (2) Data requested In reviewing an application submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall request from the Federal Communications Commission, the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Appalachian Regional Commission data on— (A) the level and extent of broadband service that exists in the area proposed to be served; and (B) the level and extent of broadband service that will be deployed in the area proposed to be served pursuant to another Federal program. (3) Interest in real or personal property For any broadband project carried out by an eligible recipient that is a public-private partnership or consortium, the Secretary shall require that title to any real or personal property acquired or improved with grant funds, or if the recipient will not acquire title, another possessory interest acceptable to the Secretary, be vested in a public partner or eligible nonprofit organization or association for the useful life of the project, after which title may be transferred to any member of the public-private partnership or consortium in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary. (4) Procurement Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person or entity shall be disqualified from competing to provide goods or services related to a broadband project on the basis that the person or entity participated in the development of the broadband project or in the drafting of specifications, requirements, statements of work, or similar documents related to the goods or services to be provided. (5) Broadband project property (A) In general The Secretary may permit a recipient of a grant for a broadband project to grant an option to acquire real or personal property (including contractual rights and intangible property) related to that project to a third party on such terms as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, subject to the condition that the option may only be exercised after the Secretary releases the Federal interest in the property. (B) Treatment The grant or exercise of an option described in subparagraph (A) shall not constitute a redistribution of grant funds under section 217. (c) Sources of assistance A grant provided under this section may be provided from amounts made available to carry out this title in combination with amounts made available under any other Federal program. (d) Non-Federal share In determining the amount of the non-Federal share of the cost of a broadband project, the Secretary may provide credit toward the non-Federal share for the present value of allowable contributions over the useful life of the broadband project, subject to the condition that the Secretary may require such assurances of the value of the rights and of the commitment of the rights as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3121 Public Law 89–136 Sec. 219. High-speed broadband deployment initiative. . November 3, 2021 Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure November 3, 2021 Committee on Financial Services

Summary: Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility Act or the E-BRIDGE Act This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce to award economic development grants for public-private partnerships and certain consortiums to carry out specified broadband projects. Such projects shall be to provide, extend, expand, or improve high-speed broadband service through (1) planning, technical assistance, or training; (2) land acquisition or development; or (3) acquisition, construction, or improvement of facilities. When reviewing grant applications, Commerce must take into account the geographic diversity of grant allocation, including consideration of underserved markets. Title to real or personal property acquired or improved with grant funds, or another acceptable possessory interest, must be vested in a public partner or eligible nonprofit organization or association for the useful life of the project. In addition, Commerce may provide credit toward the nonfederal share of a broadband project's cost.