Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Act of 2021

To accelerate rural broadband deployment. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Act of 2021 2. Accelerating broadband connectivity (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Commission (2) the terms Phase I Phase II (3) the term qualified carrier (4) the term Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support (b) Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund (c) Availability of funds The Commission may use amounts in the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund to provide support to qualified carriers in accordance with subsection (d). (d) Amount and use of funds (1) In general (A) Phase I support recipients The Commission shall make one-time funding offers to qualified carriers that receive Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support during Phase I, and that commit to meeting the conditions under paragraph (2), to accelerate the broadband deployment obligations assumed by those carriers with respect to that support. (B) Phase II support recipients The Commission shall use any amounts in the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund that are not otherwise committed under subparagraph (A) to make one-time funding offers to qualified carriers that receive Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support during Phase II, and that commit to meeting the conditions under paragraph (2), to accelerate the broadband deployment obligations assumed by those carriers with respect to that support. (2) Conditions (A) In general A qualified carrier that receives amounts under paragraph (1) shall— (i) begin construction of the broadband network for which the amounts are awarded not later than 180 days after the date on which the award under paragraph (1) is authorized; (ii) begin to make broadband service available from the broadband network deployed using Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support not later than 1 year after the date on which the award under paragraph (1) is authorized; and (iii) meet all buildout obligations from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support not later than 3 years after the date on which the award under paragraph (1) is authorized. (B) Force majeure The Commission shall adopt rules under subsection (f)(1) to provide for the extension of a deadline under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph if an event outside the control of a qualified carrier prevents the qualified carrier from meeting the deadline. (3) Amount of award The amount awarded to a qualified carrier under paragraph (1) shall be proportional to the amount of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support received by the qualified carrier. (e) Documentation required A qualified carrier that receives amounts under this section shall— (1) maintain appropriate documentation demonstrating the use of the amounts; and (2) make the documentation described in paragraph (1) available upon request as prescribed by the Commission. (f) Expedited rulemaking (1) In general The Commission shall adopt rules to carry out this section as needed on an expedited basis. (2) Use of existing rules authorized To the extent the Commission determines necessary in the public interest, the Commission may rely on the rules under part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, and funding distribution mechanisms established under those rules in administering funds made available under this section. (3) Administrative Procedure Act exemption The Commission shall adopt rules under paragraph (1) without regard to the notice and comment requirements under section 553 of title 5, United States Code. (4) Paperwork Reduction Act exemption A collection of information conducted or sponsored under this section shall not constitute a collection of information for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 35 Paperwork Reduction Act (g) Enforcement (1) In general The Commission shall implement and enforce this section as if it were a part of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 (2) Unlawful funding application (A) Offense It shall be unlawful for a person to willfully, knowingly, or recklessly seek funding under this section if doing so would violate— (i) this section; or (ii) any rules of the Commission. (B) Forfeitures Any person who violates subparagraph (A) shall be subject to a forfeiture in an amount of not more than 3 times the amount of funds made available to the person under this section, in addition to any forfeiture authorized under section 503 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 503 (3) Audit and inquiry requirements The Commission shall adopt requirements, through the expedited rulemaking under subsection (f), to— (A) ensure that a qualified carrier that receives amounts under this section complies with the requirements of this section; and (B) prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of the amounts distributed under this section. (h) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund $6,000,000,000 for purposes of this section.

Summary: Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Act of 2021 This bill establishes the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund from which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shall offer additional funding to certain terrestrial telecommunications carriers for specified broadband projects. Specifically, the FCC shall make one-time funding offers from the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund to certain terrestrial telecommunications carriers that receive support from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is a mechanism through which the FCC finances high-speed broadband networks in unserved rural areas. Recipients of amounts from the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund shall use such funds to (1) begin construction of a broadband network, (2) make broadband available from the network deployed using Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support, and (3) meet all build-out obligations pursuant to receiving amounts from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.