To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with services offered by edge providers, and for other purposes.

To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with services offered by edge providers, and for other purposes. 1. Definitions In this Act: (1) Commission The term Commission (2) Edge provider The term edge provider (A) means an entity that provides (through, but as a separate product from, the broadband internet service of a user) a service or content— (i) for which the entity requires the user to subscribe or establish an account in order to use the service; (ii) through which the user purchases, downloads, or accesses content, applications, or services from the entity without a subscription or account; (iii) by which a program searches for and identifies items in a database that correspond to keywords or characters specified by the user, used especially for finding particular sites on the World Wide Web; or (iv) by which the user divulges sensitive information of the user; (B) includes an entity that provides a service described in subparagraph (A) through a software program, including a mobile application; and (C) does not include an entity that solely provides broadband internet service. (3) Edge provider data The term edge provider data (4) High-cost rural area The term high-cost rural area (A) is not contained within an incorporated city or town; and (B) has a population of fewer than 20,000 inhabitants. (5) Qualifying broadband service The term qualifying broadband service 47 U.S.C. 1302(d) (6) Rural broadband network The term rural broadband network (7) Rural broadband provider The term rural broadband provider (A) provides qualifying broadband service in a high-cost rural area using any technology, including a fixed or mobile wireless or wireline network; and (B) provides qualifying broadband service to fewer than 250,000 customers. 2. Rural broadband network advancement study (a) Proceeding by FCC (1) In general (A) Initiation Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall initiate a proceeding to analyze the demands that have been or will be placed on rural broadband networks during the covered period that are associated with edge provider data transmitted over such networks, including internet browsing data and data associated with video streaming services. (B) Conclusion Not later than 1 year after initiating the proceeding under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall conclude the proceeding. (2) Matters for analysis The analysis conducted under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) Estimation of edge provider data An estimation of the quantity of edge provider data that has been or will be transmitted over rural broadband networks during the covered period. (B) Calculation of costs A calculation of the costs to rural broadband providers during the covered period associated with transmission by such providers of edge provider data over the rural broadband network that are not already recovered through— (i) user rates that are reasonably comparable to user rates in urban areas; or (ii) Federal programs aimed at promoting rural broadband deployment or sustaining rural broadband networks, including Federal universal service support programs established under section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254 (3) Costs described The categories of costs to be calculated under paragraph (2)(B) shall include costs associated with— (A) the initial deployment of rural broad­band networks; (B) the operation and maintenance of rural broadband networks; and (C) the delivery of services to users over rural broadband networks, including the transmission of data between high-cost rural areas and urban or suburban interconnection points. (4) Provision of information (A) Use of data To analyze the demands described under paragraph (1), the Commission shall— (i) use any existing commercial or government data or estimate concerning the covered time period; and (ii) collect data concerning the covered time period from edge providers or rural broadband providers. (B) Requirement to submit information In any case in which the Commission determines that it is necessary to collect data under subparagraph (A)(ii) from an edge provider or a rural broadband provider, such edge provider or rural broadband provider shall provide any information necessary for the Commission to complete the proceeding under paragraph (1). (5) Covered period defined In this subsection, the term covered period (A) begins on the date that is 3 years before the date on which the proceeding under paragraph (1) is initiated; and (B) ends on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the proceeding is initiated. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 120 days after concluding the proceeding under subsection (a)(1), the Commission shall publish on its website and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the proceeding.

Summary: This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to analyze and report on the demands associated with edge provider data transmitted over rural broadband networks during a specified six-year period. An edge provider is an entity that provides content, applications, or services over the internet (e.g., search engine providers, streaming video or music services, social media platforms, and retailers). Some edge providers generate revenue by selling products or subscriptions to their content, while others offer their content for free and generate revenue by selling advertising to users based on user-provided information. In its analysis, the FCC must retrospectively and prospectively estimate the quantity of edge provider data transmitted over rural broadband networks. It must also calculate costs to rural broadband providers that are not otherwise recovered for transmitting such data. These costs include (1) initial deployment of rural broadband networks, (2) operation and maintenance of those networks, and (3) the delivery of services to users over those networks.