(M) the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development; and 
(N) the Department of the Interior. 
(3) FEDERAL
BROADBAND
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘Federal broadband program’’ means any pro-
gram administered by a covered agency that is di-
rectly or indirectly intended to increase the deploy-
ment of, access to, the affordability of, or the adop-
tion of broadband internet access service. 
(4) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—The term ‘‘Im-
plementation Plan’’ means the implementation plan 
developed under section 4(a). 
(5) STRATEGY.—The term ‘‘Strategy’’ means 
the National Strategy to Close the Digital Divide de-
veloped under section 3(a). 
SEC. 3. STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE COORDINATION AND 
MANAGEMENT 
OF 
FEDERAL 
BROADBAND 
PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the President, in consulta-
tion with the heads of the covered agencies, shall develop 
and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
National Strategy to Close the Digital Divide to— 
(1) support better management of Federal 
broadband programs to deliver on the goal of pro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
viding high speed, affordable broadband internet ac-
cess service to all individuals in the United States; 
(2) synchronize interagency coordination among 
covered agencies for Federal broadband programs; 
(3) synchronize interagency coordination re-
garding the process for approving the grant of an 
easement, right of way, or lease to, in, over, or on 
a building or any other property owned by the Fed-
eral Government for the right to install, construct, 
modify, or maintain infrastructure with respect to 
broadband internet access service; and 
(4) reduce barriers, lower costs, and ease ad-
ministrative burdens for State, local, and Tribal gov-
ernments to participate in Federal broadband pro-
grams. 
(b) NATIONAL STRATEGY TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL 
DIVIDE.—The Strategy shall— 
(1) list all— 
(A) Federal broadband programs; and 
(B) programs that exist at the State and 
local levels that are directly or indirectly in-
tended to increase the deployment of, access to, 
the affordability of, or the adoption of 
broadband internet access service; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) describe current, as of the date on which 
the Strategy is submitted, Federal efforts to coordi-
nate Federal broadband programs; 
(3) identify gaps and limitations, including 
laws, that hinder, or may hinder, coordination across 
Federal broadband programs; 
(4) establish clear roles and responsibilities for 
the heads of the covered agencies, as well as clear 
goals, objectives, and performance measures, for— 
(A) the management of all Federal 
broadband programs; and 
(B) interagency coordination efforts with 
respect to Federal broadband programs; 
(5) address the cost of the Strategy, the sources 
and types of resources and investments needed to 
carry out the Strategy, and where those resources 
and investments should be targeted based on bal-
ancing risk reductions with costs; 
(6) address factors that increase the costs and 
administrative burdens for State, local, and Tribal 
governments with respect to participation in Federal 
broadband programs; 
(7) recommend incentives, legislative solutions, 
and administrative actions to help State, local, and 
Tribal governments more efficiently— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) distribute, and effectively administer, 
funding received from Federal broadband pro-
grams; and 
(B) resolve conflicts with respect to the 
funding described in subparagraph (A); 
(8) recommend incentives, legislative solutions, 
and administrative actions to— 
(A) improve the coordination and manage-
ment of Federal broadband programs; and 
(B) eliminate duplication with respect to 
Federal broadband programs; 
(9) describe current, as of the date on which 
the Strategy is submitted, efforts by covered agen-
cies to streamline the process for granting access to 
an easement, right of way, or lease to, in, over, or 
on a building or any other property owned by the 
Federal Government for the right to install, con-
struct, modify, or maintain infrastructure with re-
spect to broadband internet access service; 
(10) identify gaps and limitations with respect 
to allowing regional, interstate, or cross-border eco-
nomic development organizations to participate in 
Federal broadband programs; and 
(11) address specific issues relating to closing 
the digital divide on Tribal lands. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(c) PUBLIC
CONSULTATION.—In developing the 
Strategy, the President shall consult with— 
(1) groups that represent consumers or the in-
terests of the public, including economically or so-
cially disadvantaged individuals; 
(2) subject matter experts; 
(3) providers of broadband internet access serv-
ice; 
(4) Tribal entities; and 
(5) State and local agencies and entities with 
respect to broadband internet access service. 
SEC. 4. STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date on which the President submits the Strategy to the 
appropriate committees of Congress under section 3(a), 
the President, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Communications and Information, shall 
develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress an implementation plan for the Strategy. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—The Implementation 
Plan shall, at a minimum— 
(1) provide a plan for implementing the roles, 
responsibilities, goals, objectives, and performance 
measures for the management of Federal broadband 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
programs and interagency coordination efforts iden-
tified in the Strategy; 
(2) provide a plan for holding the covered agen-
cies accountable for the roles, responsibilities, goals, 
objectives, and performance measures identified in 
the Strategy; 
(3) describe the roles and responsibilities of the 
covered agencies, and the interagency mechanisms, 
to coordinate the implementation of the Strategy; 
(4) provide a plan for regular meetings among 
the heads of the covered agencies to coordinate the 
implementation of the Strategy and improve coordi-
nation among Federal broadband programs and for 
permitting processes for infrastructure with respect 
to broadband internet access service; 
(5) provide a plan for regular engagement with 
interested members of the public to evaluate Federal 
broadband programs, permitting processes for infra-
structure with respect to broadband internet access 
service, and the progress for the implementation of 
the Strategy; 
(6) with respect to the awarding of Federal 
funds or subsidies to support the deployment of 
broadband internet access service, provide a plan for 
the adoption of— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) common data sets regarding those 
awards, including a requirement that covered 
agencies use the maps created under title VIII 
of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
641 et seq.); and 
(B) applications regarding those awards, 
as described in section 903(e) of the ACCESS 
BROADBAND Act (47 U.S.C. 1307(e)); 
(7) provide a plan to monitor and reduce waste, 
fraud, and abuse in Federal broadband programs, 
including wasteful spending resulting from frag-
mented, overlapping, and unnecessarily duplicative 
programs; 
(8) require consistent obligation and expendi-
ture reporting by covered agencies for Federal 
broadband programs, which shall be consistent with 
section 903(c)(2) of the ACCESS BROADBAND 
Act (47 U.S.C. 1307(c)(2)); 
(9) provide a plan to increase awareness of, and 
participation and enrollment in, Federal broadband 
programs relating to the affordability and adoption 
of broadband internet access service; and 
(10) describe the administrative and legislative 
action that is necessary to carry out the Strategy. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(c) PUBLIC COMMENT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the President submits the Strategy to 
the appropriate committees of Congress under section 
3(a), the President shall seek public comment regarding 
the development and implementation of the Implementa-
tion Plan. 
SEC. 5. BRIEFINGS AND IMPLEMENTATION. 
(a) BRIEFING.—Not later than 21 days after the date 
on which the President submits the Implementation Plan 
to the appropriate committees of Congress under section 
4(a), the President, and appropriate representatives from 
the covered agencies involved in the formulation of the 
Strategy, shall provide a briefing on the implementation 
of the Strategy to the appropriate committees of Congress. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President and the As-
sistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
and Information shall— 
(A) implement the Strategy in accordance 
with the terms of the Implementation Plan; and 
(B) not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the President begins to implement the 
Strategy, and not less frequently than once 
every 90 days thereafter until the date on which 
the Implementation Plan is fully implemented, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
brief the appropriate committees of Congress on 
the progress in implementing the Implementa-
tion Plan. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed to affect the authority 
or jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Com-
mission or confer upon the President or any execu-
tive agency the power to direct the actions of the 
Federal Communications Commission, either directly 
or indirectly. 
SEC. 6. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDIES 
AND REPORTS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
President submits the Implementation Plan to the appro-
priate committees of Congress under section 4(a), the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall commence 
a study— 
(1) that shall— 
(A) examine the efficacy of the Strategy 
and the Implementation Plan in closing the dig-
ital divide; and 
(B) make recommendations regarding how 
to improve the Strategy and the Implementa-
tion Plan; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) the results of which the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:54 Aug 23, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H8679.IH
H8679
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS