I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 146 
To establish a grant program to support broadband-based economic 
development efforts. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2005 
Mr. MCHUGH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a grant program to support broadband-based 
economic development efforts. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. GRANTS FOR BROADBAND-BASED ECONOMIC 
DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 219. GRANTS FOR BROADBAND-BASED ECONOMIC DE-
VELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.—The term ‘eligible 
applicant’ means— 
‘‘(A) a State or local government; 
‘‘(B) an institution of higher education; or 
‘‘(C) a nonprofit economic development or-
ganization. 
‘‘(2) REGION.—The term ‘region’ means an 
area— 
‘‘(A) that is determined by the Secretary 
to qualify for grants under this section; and 
‘‘(B) that, on the date of submission of an 
application for a grant under this section, meets 
1 or more of the criteria described in section 
301(a). 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.—On the application of an eligible ap-
plicant, the Secretary may make grants— 
‘‘(1) to assess the telecommunications infra-
structure of a region; 
‘‘(2) to assess the telecommunications demand 
in a region; and
‘‘(3) to organize programs to boost the supply 
of high-speed telecommunications to a region, in-
cluding demand aggregation programs. 
‘‘(c) CRITERIA
FOR GRANT.—The Secretary may 
make a grant under this section only if the Secretary de-
termines that the project proposed to be carried out using 
funds from the grant will advance high-speed tele-
communications in an area with a population of not more 
than 1,000,000 individuals, as determined by the Office 
of Management and Budget. 
‘‘(d) MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE FOR EACH REGION.— 
Not more than $1,000,000 of the amounts made available 
to carry out this section may be expended in any 1 region. 
‘‘(e) COST SHARING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 
cost of a project carried out using funds made avail-
able under this section shall be 50 percent. 
‘‘(2) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—Not more than 
50 percent of the non-Federal share of the cost of 
a project carried out using funds made available 
under this section may be provided through in-kind 
contributions. 
‘‘(3) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN SECTION.— 
Section 204 shall not apply to this section.
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$50,000,000. Such funds shall remain available until ex-
pended.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents contained in section 1(b) of the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 
note) is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 218 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 219. Grants for broadband-based economic development.’’. 
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