Broadband Parity Act of 2021

To ensure that fixed broadband internet access service assisted by any Federal broadband support program meets a minimum level of service. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Broadband Parity Act of 2021 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Agency The term agency (2) Federal broadband support program The term Federal broadband support program (A) The Telecommunications and Technology Program of the Appalachian Regional Commission. (B) The following programs of the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture: (i) The Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program established under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq. (ii) Any program to provide grants, loans, or loan guarantees under sections 601 through 603 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb et seq. (iii) The substantially underserved trust area initiative under section 306F of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 936f (iv) The Community Connect Grant Program established under section 604 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb–3 (v) The distance learning and telemedicine grant program established under chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XXII of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq. (C) The following programs of the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce: (i) The Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs. (ii) The Planning and Local Technical Assistance Programs. (D) The following programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: (i) The Community Development Block Grant Program under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. (ii) The loan guarantee program under section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5308 Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program (iii) Assistance from the Public Housing Capital Fund established under section 9(d) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(d) (iv) Assistance from the Public Housing Operating Fund established under section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(e) (v) The Multifamily Housing Programs. (vi) The Indian Community Development Block Grant Program. (vii) The Indian Housing Block Grant Program under section 101 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 ( 25 U.S.C. 4111 (viii) Loan guarantees under title VI of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 ( 25 U.S.C. 4191 et seq. Title VI Loan Guarantee Program (ix) The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. (x) The HOME Investment Partnerships Program authorized under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq. (xi) The Housing Trust Fund established under section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 4568 (xii) The Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program authorized under the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq. (E) The American Job Centers of the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor. (F) The Library Services and Technology Grant Programs of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. (G) Any Universal Service Fund high-cost program authorized to help deploy fixed broadband internet access service. (H) The following programs of the Department of the Treasury: (i) The Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund under section 602 of the Social Security Act, as added by section 9901(a) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 (ii) The Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund under section 603 of the Social Security Act, as added by section 9901(a) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 (iii) The Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund under section 604 of the Social Security Act, as added by section 9901(a) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 (3) Universal Service Fund high-cost program The term Universal Service Fund high-cost program 47 U.S.C. 1307 3. Universal minimum level of service for federally supported fixed broadband (a) Rulemaking Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the head of each other agency that provides assistance under a Federal broadband support program, shall conduct a rulemaking to establish a minimum level of service for fixed broadband internet access service assisted by a Federal broadband support program to ensure that such service can support— (1) virtual learning; (2) telehealth services; and (3) telework. (b) Minimum level of service The minimum level of service established under subsection (a) shall, in a technology-neutral manner, include— (1) a minimum download speed; (2) a minimum upload speed; and (3) a maximum latency. (c) Requirement (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), subject to subsection (e), and notwithstanding any other provision of law, an agency may not provide assistance under a Federal broadband support program unless the fixed broadband internet access service to be assisted meets or exceeds, or will meet or exceed when deployed, the minimum level of service established under subsection (a) that was in effect on the date on which the agency made the determination to provide the assistance. (2) Infeasibility Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the agency providing assistance determines that the provision of fixed broadband internet access service that meets or exceeds the minimum level of service described in that paragraph is infeasible. (d) Technical and conforming amendment Section 601(e) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 950bb(e) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking at least— not less than the minimum level of service established under section 3(a) of the Broadband Parity Act of 2021 (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting , subject to the condition that the minimum acceptable level of broadband service, as adjusted under this paragraph, may not be less than the minimum level of service described in paragraph (1) (e) Prospective applicability This section and the amendments made by this section— (1) shall apply to any determination of an agency to provide assistance under a Federal broadband support program that is made on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) shall not affect any award of assistance made under a Federal broadband support program before the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Broadband Parity Act of 2021 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a minimum level of service (e.g., upload and download speeds) that any fixed broadband internet service provider must offer to be eligible for assistance under a federal broadband support program. This minimum must ensure that a provider can support virtual learning, telehealth services, and telework. Further, the bill prohibits an agency from assisting a provider through a federal broadband support program unless the service that will be assisted meets or exceeds (or will meet or exceed when deployed) this minimum level of service.