Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2021

To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program to make grants to States to inform Medicaid enrollees, SNAP participants, and low-income residents of potential eligibility for the Lifeline program of the Commission. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2021 2. Lifeline enrollment outreach grants (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission (2) Covered individuals The term covered individuals (A) Medicaid enrollees; (B) SNAP participants; and (C) low-income residents. (3) Eligible-but-not-enrolled The term eligible-but-not-enrolled (4) Lifeline program The term Lifeline program (5) Low-income The term low-income (6) Medicaid enrollee The term Medicaid enrollee 42 U.S.C. 1396 (7) Reach The term reach (8) SNAP participant The term SNAP participant 7 U.S.C. 2011 (9) State The term State (b) Establishment The Commission shall establish a competitive program to make grants to States to inform covered individuals of potential eligibility for the Lifeline program. (c) Application (1) In general The Commission may only award a grant under this section to a State that submits an application at such time, in such form, and with such information and assurances as the Commission may require. (2) Matters required to be included An application submitted by a State under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) the number of covered individuals in the State; (B) a plan for the activities that the State will conduct using grant funds, including a list of each agency within the State that will assist in carrying out those activities; and (C) an estimate of the percentage of eligible-but-not-enrolled individuals in the State who will be reached by those activities. (d) Selection (1) Minimum of 5 States The Commission shall award grants under this section to not fewer than 5 States. (2) Factors for consideration In awarding grants under this section, the Commission shall give favorable consideration— (A) to States that have higher numbers of covered individuals; and (B) to States proposing, in the plans submitted under subsection (c)(2)(B), to conduct activities that have the potential to reach higher percentages of eligible-but-not-enrolled individuals in those States, as determined by the Commission, taking into consideration the estimates submitted under subsection (c)(2)(C). (3) Geographic diversity In awarding grants under this section, the Commission shall, to the maximum extent practicable, select States from different geographic regions of the United States. (e) Use of funds (1) In general A State that receives a grant under this section shall use grant funds, in accordance with the plan included in the application of the State under subsection (c)(2)(B), to— (A) inform covered individuals and organizations or agencies that serve those individuals, as the case may be under the terms of the grant awarded to the State, of potential eligibility for the Lifeline program; (B) provide those covered individuals with information about the Lifeline program, including— (i) how to apply for the Lifeline program; and (ii) a description of the prohibition on more than 1 subscriber in each household receiving a service provided under the Lifeline program; and (C) partner with nonprofit and community-based organizations to provide those covered individuals with assistance applying for the Lifeline program and information about product and technology choices. (2) Multiple State agencies A State that receives a grant under this section may provide grant funds to 1 or more agencies located within the State to carry out the activities under the grant. (f) Outreach to States regarding grant program Before accepting applications for the grant program established under this section, the Commission shall conduct outreach to States to ensure that States are aware of the grant program and how to apply for a grant under the grant program. (g) Report to Congress (1) In general Not later than 3 years after establishing the grant program under this section, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program. (2) Contents The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) the number of individuals notified of Lifeline program eligibility by States receiving grants under this section; (B) the number of new applicants to the Lifeline program from States receiving grants under this section, including the number of those applicants whose Lifeline program applications were approved and the number of those applicants whose Lifeline program applications were denied; and (C) the cost-effectiveness of the grant program established under this section. (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for the first 5 full fiscal years beginning after the establishment of the grant program under this section.

Summary: Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2021 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a grant program to provide states with resources to inform their residents who are Medicaid enrollees, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants, or low-income individuals about the FCC's Lifeline program. The Lifeline program is designed to reduce the cost of communications services for low-income consumers.