859 
‘‘(i) a list of each entity that has ap-
plied for assistance under this section; 
‘‘(ii) a description of each application, 
including the status of each application; 
‘‘(iii) for each entity receiving assist-
ance under this section— 
‘‘(I) the name of the entity; 
‘‘(II) the type of assistance being 
received; 
‘‘(III) the purpose for which the 
entity is receiving the assistance; and 
‘‘(IV) each quarterly report sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(iv) such other information as is suf-
ficient to allow the public to understand 
and monitor assistance provided under this 
section; 
‘‘(C) shall, in addition to other authority 
under applicable law, establish written proce-
dures for all broadband programs administered 
by the Secretary that, to the maximum extent 
practicable— 
‘‘(i) recover funds from loan defaults; 
‘‘(ii)(I) deobligate awards to grantees 
that demonstrate an insufficient level of 
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performance (including failure to meet 
build-out requirements, service quality 
issues, or other metrics determined by the 
Secretary) or wasteful or fraudulent spend-
ing; and 
‘‘(II) award those funds, on a com-
petitive basis, to new or existing applicants 
consistent with this section; and 
‘‘(iii) consolidate and minimize overlap 
among the programs; 
‘‘(D) with respect to an application for as-
sistance under this section, shall— 
‘‘(i) promptly post on the website of 
the Rural Utility Service— 
‘‘(I) an announcement that iden-
tifies— 
‘‘(aa) each applicant; 
‘‘(bb) the amount and type 
of support requested by each ap-
plicant; and 
‘‘(II) a list of the census block 
groups or proposed service territory, 
in a manner specified by the Sec-
retary, that the applicant proposes to 
service; 
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‘‘(ii) provide not less than 15 days for 
broadband service providers to voluntarily 
submit information about the broadband 
services that the providers offer in the 
groups or tracts listed under clause (i)(II) 
so that the Secretary may assess whether 
the applications submitted meet the eligi-
bility requirements under this section; and 
‘‘(iii) if no broadband service provider 
submits information under clause (ii), con-
sider the number of providers in the group 
or tract to be established by reference to— 
‘‘(I) the most current National 
Broadband Map of the National Tele-
communications and Information Ad-
ministration; or 
‘‘(II) any other data regarding 
the availability of broadband service 
that the Secretary may collect or ob-
tain through reasonable efforts; and 
‘‘(E) may establish additional reporting 
and information requirements for any recipient 
of any assistance under this section so as to en-
sure compliance with this section.’’; 
(5) in subsection (e)— 
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(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
for purposes of this section, the minimum acceptable 
level of broadband service for a rural area shall be 
at least— 
‘‘(A) a 4-Mbps downstream transmission 
capacity; and 
‘‘(B) a 1-Mbps upstream transmission ca-
pacity. 
‘‘(2) ADJUSTMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—At least once every 2 
years, the Secretary shall review, and may ad-
just, the minimum acceptable level of broad-
band service established under paragraph (1) to 
ensure that high-quality, cost-effective broad-
band service is provided to rural areas over 
time. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In making an 
adjustment to the minimum acceptable level of 
broadband service under subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary may consider establishing different 
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