I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1848 
To rebuild and modernize the Nation’s infrastructure to expand access to 
broadband and Next Generation 9–1–1, rehabilitate drinking water infra-
structure, modernize the electric grid and energy supply infrastructure, 
redevelop brownfields, strengthen health care infrastructure, create jobs, 
and protect public health and the environment, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2021 
Mr. PALLONE (for himself, Mr. RUSH, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. MI-
CHAEL
F. 
DOYLE
of 
Pennsylvania, 
Ms. 
SCHAKOWSKY, 
Mr. 
BUTTERFIELD, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. 
MCNERNEY, Mr. WELCH, Mr. TONKO, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. 
SCHRADER, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mr. RUIZ, Mr. PETERS, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. 
VEASEY, Ms. KUSTER, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. 
MCEACHIN, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. SOTO, Mr. O’HALLERAN, Miss 
RICE of New York, Ms. CRAIG, Ms. SCHRIER, Mrs. TRAHAN, and Mrs. 
FLETCHER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Science, Space, 
and Technology, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Agriculture, 
and Oversight and Reform, 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 rebuild and modernize the Nation’s infrastructure to ex-
pand access to broadband and Next Generation 9–1– 
1, rehabilitate drinking water infrastructure, modernize 
the electric grid and energy supply infrastructure, rede-
velop brownfields, strengthen health care infrastructure, 
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create jobs, and protect public health and the environ-
ment, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s America Act’’ or 
the ‘‘LIFT America Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—UNIVERSAL BROADBAND AND NEXT GENERATION 9–1–1 
Sec. 10001. Definitions. 
Sec. 10002. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 10003. Severability. 
Subtitle A—Digital Equity 
Sec. 11001. Definitions. 
PART 1—OFFICE OF INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AND GROWTH 
Sec. 11101. Annual report of Office. 
Sec. 11102. Study and report on affordability of adoption of broadband service. 
Sec. 11103. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 11104. Study and recommendations to connect socially disadvantaged indi-
viduals. 
PART 2—DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAMS 
Sec. 11201. State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. 
Sec. 11202. Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. 
Sec. 11203. Policy research, data collection, analysis and modeling, evaluation, 
and dissemination. 
Sec. 11204. General provisions. 
Subtitle B—Broadband Affordability and Pricing Transparency 
PART 1—BROADBAND AFFORDABILITY 
Sec. 12101. Authorization for additional funds for the Emergency Broadband 
Connectivity Fund. 
Sec. 12102. Grants to States to strengthen National Lifeline Eligibility 
Verifier. 
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Sec. 12103. Federal coordination between National Eligibility Verifier and Na-
tional Accuracy Clearinghouse. 
Sec. 12104. Definitions. 
PART 2—ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY 
FUND 
Sec. 12201. Additional authorization for Emergency Connectivity Fund. 
PART 3—PRICING TRANSPARENCY 
Sec. 12301. Definitions. 
Sec. 12302. Broadband transparency. 
Sec. 12303. Distribution of data. 
Sec. 12304. Coordination with certain other Federal agencies. 
Sec. 12305. Adoption of consumer broadband labels. 
Sec. 12306. GAO report. 
Subtitle C—Broadband Access 
PART 1—EXPANSION OF BROADBAND ACCESS 
Sec. 13101. Expansion of broadband access in unserved areas and areas with 
low-tier or mid-tier service. 
Sec. 13102. Tribal internet expansion. 
PART 2—BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AND INNOVATION 
Sec. 13201. Short title. 
Sec. 13202. Definitions. 
Sec. 13203. Determination of eligibility and project selection. 
Sec. 13204. Secured loans. 
Sec. 13205. Lines of credit. 
Sec. 13206. Alternative prudential lending standards for small projects. 
Sec. 13207. Program administration. 
Sec. 13208. State and local permits. 
Sec. 13209. Regulations. 
Sec. 13210. Funding. 
Sec. 13211. Reports to Congress. 
PART 3—WI-FI ON SCHOOL BUSES 
Sec. 13301. E-rate support for school bus Wi-Fi. 
Subtitle D—Community Broadband 
Sec. 14001. State, local, public-private partnership, and co-op broadband serv-
ices. 
Subtitle E—Next Generation 9–1–1 
Sec. 15001. Further deployment of Next Generation 9–1–1. 
TITLE II—DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 
Sec. 20001. Drinking Water SRF Funding. 
Sec. 20002. Drinking water system resilience funding. 
Sec. 20003. PFAS treatment grants. 
Sec. 20004. Lead service line replacement. 
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Sec. 20005. Assistance for areas affected by natural disasters. 
Sec. 20006. Allotments for territories. 
TITLE III—CLEAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE 
Subtitle A—Grid Security and Modernization 
Sec. 31001. 21st century power grid. 
Sec. 31002. Strategic transformer reserve program. 
Subtitle B—Energy Efficient Infrastructure 
PART 1—EFFICIENCY GRANTS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 
Sec. 32101. Energy efficient public buildings. 
Sec. 32102. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. 
PART 2—ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES 
Sec. 32201. Grants for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy 
improvements at public school facilities. 
PART 3—HOPE FOR HOMES 
Sec. 32301. Definitions. 
SUBPART A—HOPE TRAINING 
Sec. 32311. Notice for HOPE Qualification training and grants. 
Sec. 32312. Course criteria. 
Sec. 32313. HOPE Qualification. 
Sec. 32314. Grants. 
Sec. 32315. Authorization of appropriations. 
SUBPART B—HOME ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT REBATE PROGRAM 
Sec. 32321. Establishment of Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program. 
Sec. 32322. Partial system rebates. 
Sec. 32323. State administered rebates. 
Sec. 32324. Special provisions for moderate income households. 
Sec. 32325. Evaluation reports to Congress. 
Sec. 32326. Administration. 
Sec. 32327. Treatment of rebates. 
Sec. 32328. Authorization of appropriations. 
SUBPART C—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 32331. Appointment of personnel. 
Sec. 32332. Maintenance of funding. 
PART 4—ENERGY AND WATER PERFORMANCE AT FEDERAL FACILITIES 
Sec. 32401. Energy and water performance requirement for Federal facilities. 
PART 5—OPEN BACK BETTER 
Sec. 32501. Facilities energy resiliency. 
Sec. 32502. Personnel. 
Subtitle C—Energy Supply Infrastructure 
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Sec. 33001. Grant program for solar installations located in, or that serve, low- 
income and underserved areas. 
Sec. 33002. Improving the natural gas distribution system. 
Sec. 33003. Distributed energy resources. 
Sec. 33004. Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator. 
Sec. 33005. Dam safety. 
Subtitle D—Smart Communities Infrastructure 
PART 1—SMART COMMUNITIES 
Sec. 34101. 3C energy program. 
Sec. 34102. Federal technology assistance. 
Sec. 34103. Technology demonstration grant program. 
Sec. 34104. Smart city or community. 
PART 2—CLEAN CITIES COALITION PROGRAM 
Sec. 34201. Clean Cities Coalition Program. 
PART 3—VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE 
SUBPART A—ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE 
Sec. 34311. Definitions. 
Sec. 34312. Electric vehicle supply equipment rebate program. 
Sec. 34313. Model building code for electric vehicle supply equipment. 
Sec. 34314. Electric vehicle supply equipment coordination. 
Sec. 34315. State consideration of electric vehicle charging. 
Sec. 34316. State energy plans. 
Sec. 34317. Transportation electrification. 
Sec. 34318. Federal fleets. 
SUBPART B—ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES 
Sec. 34321. Expanding access to electric vehicles in underserved and disadvan-
taged communities. 
Sec. 34322. Ensuring program benefits for underserved and disadvantaged 
communities. 
Sec. 34323. Definitions. 
SUBPART C—PORT ELECTRIFICATION AND DECARBONIZATION 
Sec. 34331. Definitions. 
Sec. 34332. Grants to reduce air pollution at ports. 
Sec. 34333. Model methodologies. 
Sec. 34334. Port electrification. 
Sec. 34335. Authorization of appropriations. 
SUBPART D—OTHER VEHICLES 
Sec. 34341. Clean School Bus Program. 
Sec. 34342. Pilot program for the electrification of certain refrigerated vehicles. 
Sec. 34343. Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grant Program. 
Sec. 34344. Advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program. 
TITLE IV—HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE 
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Sec. 40001. Core public health infrastructure for State, local, Tribal, and terri-
torial health departments. 
Sec. 40002. Core public health infrastructure and activities for CDC. 
Sec. 40003. Hospital infrastructure. 
Sec. 40004. Pilot program to improve laboratory infrastructure. 
Sec. 40005. 21st century Indian health program hospitals and outpatient 
health care facilities. 
Sec. 40006. Pilot program to improve community-based care infrastructure. 
Sec. 40007. Community Health Center Capital Project Funding. 
Sec. 40008. Energy efficiency. 
TITLE V—BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT 
Sec. 50001. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 50002. State response programs. 
TITLE 
I—UNIVERSAL 
BROAD-
BAND 
AND 
NEXT 
GENERA-
TION 9–1–1 
SEC. 10001. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) AGING INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘aging indi-
vidual’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘older indi-
vidual’’ in section 102 of the Older Americans Act 
of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002). 
(2) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives; and 
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(D) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives. 
(3) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist-
ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Communications and Information. 
(4) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
(5) COVERED HOUSEHOLD.—The term ‘‘covered 
household’’ means a household the income of which 
does not exceed 150 percent of the poverty thresh-
old, as determined by using criteria of poverty estab-
lished by the Bureau of the Census, for a household 
of the size involved. 
(6) COVERED POPULATIONS.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered populations’’ means— 
(A) individuals who are members of cov-
ered households; 
(B) aging individuals; 
(C) incarcerated individuals, other than in-
dividuals who are incarcerated in a Federal cor-
rectional facility (including a private facility op-
erated under contract with the Federal Govern-
ment); 
(D) veterans; 
(E) individuals with disabilities; 
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(F) individuals with a language barrier, in-
cluding individuals who— 
(i) are English learners; or 
(ii) have low levels of literacy; 
(G) individuals who are members of a ra-
cial or ethnic minority group; and 
(H) individuals who primarily reside in a 
rural area. 
(7) DIGITAL LITERACY.—The term ‘‘digital lit-
eracy’’ means the skills associated with using tech-
nology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, 
create, and communicate information. 
(8) DISABILITY.—The term ‘‘disability’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12102). 
(9) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 
agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘agency’’ 
in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. 
(10) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 4(e) of 
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)). 
(11) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’— 
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(A) has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1001); and 
(B) includes a postsecondary vocational in-
stitution. 
(12) POSTSECONDARY
VOCATIONAL
INSTITU-
TION.—The term ‘‘postsecondary vocational institu-
tion’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1002(c)). 
(13) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘‘rural area’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 13 of the 
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 913). 
(14) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 3 of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153). 
(15) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 10002. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) a broadband service connection and digital 
literacy are increasingly critical to how individuals— 
(A) participate in the society, economy, 
and civic institutions of the United States; and 
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(B) access health care and essential serv-
ices, obtain education, and build careers; 
(2) digital exclusion— 
(A) carries a high societal and economic 
cost; 
(B) materially harms the opportunity of an 
individual with respect to the economic success, 
educational achievement, positive health out-
comes, social inclusion, and civic engagement of 
that individual; 
(C) materially harms the opportunity of 
areas where it is especially widespread with re-
spect to economic success, educational achieve-
ment, positive health outcomes, social cohesion, 
and civic institutions; and 
(D) exacerbates existing wealth and income 
gaps, especially those experienced by covered 
populations and between regions; 
(3) achieving accessible and affordable access to 
broadband service, as well as digital literacy, for all 
people of the United States requires additional and 
sustained research efforts and investment; 
(4) the Federal Government, as well as State, 
Tribal, and local governments, have made social, 
legal, and economic obligations that necessarily ex-
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tend to how the citizens and residents of those gov-
ernments access and use the internet; and 
(5) achieving accessible and affordable access to 
broadband service is a matter of social and economic 
justice and is worth pursuing. 
(b) BROADBAND SERVICE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘broadband service’’ has the meaning given 
the term ‘‘broadband internet access service’’ in section 
8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
successor regulation. 
SEC. 10003. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this title, an amendment made by 
this title, or the application of such provision or amend-
ment to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, 
the remainder of this title and the amendments made by 
this title, and the application of such provision or amend-
ment to any other person or circumstance, shall not be 
affected thereby. 
Subtitle A—Digital Equity 
SEC. 11001. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) ADOPTION OF BROADBAND SERVICE.—The 
term ‘‘adoption of broadband service’’ means the 
process by which an individual obtains daily access 
to broadband service— 
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of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any suc-
cessor regulation. 
(5) COVERED PROGRAMS.—The term ‘‘covered 
programs’’ means the State Digital Equity Capacity 
Grant Program established under section 11201 and 
the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program es-
tablished under section 11202. 
(6) DIGITAL EQUITY.—The term ‘‘digital eq-
uity’’ means the condition in which individuals and 
communities have the information technology capac-
ity that is needed for full participation in the society 
and economy of the United States. 
(7) DIGITAL INCLUSION ACTIVITIES.—The term 
‘‘digital inclusion activities’’— 
(A) means the activities that are necessary 
to ensure that all individuals in the United 
States have access to, and the use of, affordable 
information and communication technologies, 
such as— 
(i) reliable broadband service; 
(ii) internet-enabled devices that meet 
the needs of the user; and 
(iii) applications and online content 
designed to enable and encourage self-suf-
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ficiency, participation, and collaboration; 
and 
(B) includes— 
(i) the provision of digital literacy 
training; 
(ii) the provision of quality technical 
support; and 
(iii) promoting basic awareness of 
measures to ensure online privacy and cy-
bersecurity. 
(8) ELIGIBLE
STATE.—The term ‘‘eligible 
State’’ means— 
(A) with respect to planning grants made 
available under section 11201(c)(3), a State 
with respect to which the Assistant Secretary 
has approved an application submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary under subparagraph (C) of 
such section; and 
(B) with respect to capacity grants award-
ed under section 11201(d), a State with respect 
to which the Assistant Secretary has approved 
an application submitted to the Assistant Sec-
retary under paragraph (2) of such section. 
(9) FEDERAL
BROADBAND
SUPPORT
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘Federal broadband support pro-
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gram’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
903 of division FF of the Consolidated Appropria-
tions Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260). 
(10) GENDER
IDENTITY.—The term ‘‘gender 
identity’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
249(c) of title 18, United States Code. 
(11) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘local educational agency’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 8101(30) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7801(30)). 
(12) MEDICAID ENROLLEE.—The term ‘‘Med-
icaid enrollee’’ means, with respect to a State, an in-
dividual enrolled in the State plan under title XIX 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) 
or a waiver of that plan. 
(13) 
NATIONAL
LIFELINE
ELIGIBILITY 
VERIFIER.—The term ‘‘National Lifeline Eligibility 
Verifier’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
54.400 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
any successor regulation). 
(14) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘Native Hawaiian organization’’ means any or-
ganization— 
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(A) that serves the interests of Native Ha-
waiians; 
(B) in which Native Hawaiians serve in 
substantive and policymaking positions; 
(C) that has as a primary and stated pur-
pose the provision of services to Native Hawai-
ians; and 
(D) that is recognized for having expertise 
in Native Hawaiian affairs, digital connectivity, 
or access to broadband service. 
(15) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the 
Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within 
the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration. 
(16) PUBLIC
HOUSING
AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘public housing agency’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 3(b) of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)). 
(17) SNAP PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘‘SNAP 
participant’’ means an individual who is a member 
of a household that participates in the supplemental 
nutrition assistance program under the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). 
(18) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN-
TAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.—The term ‘‘so-
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cially and economically disadvantaged small business 
concern’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
8(a)(4) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
637(a)(4)). 
(19) TRIBALLY
DESIGNATED
ENTITY.—The 
term ‘‘tribally designated entity’’ means an entity 
designated by an Indian Tribe to carry out activities 
under this subtitle. 
(20) UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND PROGRAM.— 
The term ‘‘Universal Service Fund Program’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 903 of divi-
sion FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2021 (Public Law 116–260). 
(21) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.— 
The term ‘‘workforce development program’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Work-
force Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3102). 
PART 1—OFFICE OF INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 
AND GROWTH 
SEC. 11101. ANNUAL REPORT OF OFFICE. 
Section 903(c)(2)(C) of division FF of the Consoli-
dated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(iv) A description of any non-eco-
nomic benefits of such broadband deploy-
ment efforts, including any effect on civic 
engagement. 
‘‘(v) The extent to which residents of 
the United States that received broadband 
as a result of Federal broadband support 
programs and the Universal Service Fund 
Programs 
received 
broadband 
at 
the 
download and upload speeds required by 
such programs.’’. 
SEC. 11102. STUDY AND REPORT ON AFFORDABILITY OF 
ADOPTION OF BROADBAND SERVICE. 
Section 903 of division FF of the Consolidated Ap-
propriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as 
subsections (i) and (j), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) STUDY AND REPORT ON AFFORDABILITY OF 
ADOPTION OF BROADBAND SERVICE.— 
‘‘(1) STUDY.—The Office, in consultation with 
the Commission, the Department of Agriculture, the 
Department of the Treasury, and such other Federal 
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gency broadband benefit under section 904 of 
division N, to households to cover the difference 
between the cost of adoption of broadband serv-
ice (determined before applying such additional 
Federal subsidies) and the price at which adop-
tion of broadband service would be affordable. 
‘‘(E) How a program to provide additional 
Federal subsidies as described in subparagraph 
(D) should be administered to most effectively 
facilitate adoption of broadband service at the 
lowest overall expense to the Federal Govern-
ment, including measures that would ensure 
that the availability of the subsidies does not 
result in providers raising the price of 
broadband service for households receiving sub-
sidies. 
‘‘(F) How participation in the Lifeline pro-
gram of the Commission has changed in the 5 
years prior to the date of the enactment of this 
subsection, including— 
‘‘(i) geographic information at the 
census-block level depicting the scale of 
change in participation in each area; and 
‘‘(ii) information on changes in par-
ticipation by specific types of Lifeline-sup-
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ported services, including fixed voice te-
lephony service, mobile voice telephony 
service, fixed broadband service, and mo-
bile broadband service and, in the case of 
any Lifeline-supported services provided as 
part of a bundle of services to which a 
Lifeline discount is applied, which Lifeline- 
supported services are part of such bundle 
and whether or not each Lifeline-supported 
service in such bundle meets Lifeline min-
imum service standards. 
‘‘(G) How competition impacts the price of 
broadband service, including the impact of mo-
nopolistic business practices by broadband serv-
ice providers. 
‘‘(H) The extent to which, if at all, the 
Universal Service Fund high-cost programs 
have enabled access to reasonably comparable 
telephony and broadband services at reasonably 
comparable rates in high-cost rural areas as re-
quired by the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 151 et seq.), including a comparison of 
the rates charged by recipients of support under 
such programs in rural areas and rates charged 
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in urban areas, as determined by the Commis-
sion’s annual survey. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection, and bienni-
ally thereafter, the Office shall submit to Congress 
a report on the results of the study conducted under 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) COST.—The term ‘cost’ means, with 
respect to adoption of broadband service, the 
cost of adoption of broadband service to a 
household after applying any subsidies that re-
duce such cost. 
‘‘(B) OTHER
DEFINITIONS.—The terms 
‘adoption of broadband service’ and ‘broadband 
service’ have the meanings given such terms in 
section 11001 of the Leading Infrastructure 
For Tomorrow’s America Act.’’. 
SEC. 11103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Assist-
ant Secretary $26,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2022 through 2026 for the operations of the Office. 
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SEC. 11104. STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONNECT 
SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS. 
Section 903 of division FF of the Consolidated Ap-
propriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260), as amend-
ed by section 11102, is further amended by inserting be-
fore subsection (i) (as redesignated by such section) the 
following: 
‘‘(h) STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONNECT 
SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months 
after the date of the enactment of this subsection, 
the Office, in consultation with the Commission and 
the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Ag-
riculture, shall, after public notice and an oppor-
tunity for comment, conduct a study to assess the 
extent to which Federal funds for broadband service, 
including the Universal Service Fund Programs and 
other Federal broadband support programs, have ex-
panded access to and adoption of broadband service 
by socially disadvantaged individuals as compared to 
individuals who are not socially disadvantaged indi-
viduals. 
‘‘(2) REPORT AND PUBLICATION.— 
‘‘(A) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of the enactment of this 
subsection, the Office shall submit a report on 
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the results of the study under paragraph (1) 
to— 
‘‘(i) the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representa-
tives; 
‘‘(ii) the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; 
and 
‘‘(iii) each agency administering a 
program evaluated by such report. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC PUBLICATION.—Contempora-
neously with submitting the report required by 
subparagraph (A), the Office shall publish such 
report on the public-facing website of the Of-
fice. 
‘‘(C) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The report re-
quired by subparagraph (A) shall include rec-
ommendations with regard to how Federal 
funds for the Universal Service Fund Programs 
and Federal broadband support programs may 
be dispersed in an a manner that better ex-
pands access to and adoption of broadband 
service by socially disadvantaged individuals as 
compared to individuals who are not socially 
disadvantaged individuals. 
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‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED
INDI-
VIDUAL.—The term ‘socially disadvantaged in-
dividual’ has the meaning given that term in 
section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
637). 
‘‘(B) OTHER
DEFINITIONS.—The terms 
‘adoption of broadband service’ and ‘broadband 
service’ have the meanings given such terms in 
section 11001 of the Leading Infrastructure 
For Tomorrow’s America Act.’’. 
PART 2—DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAMS 
SEC. 11201. STATE DIGITAL EQUITY CAPACITY GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall establish in the Office the State Digital Equity 
Capacity Grant Program (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘Program’’)— 
(A) the purpose of which is to promote the 
achievement of digital equity, support digital in-
clusion activities, and build capacity for efforts 
by States relating to the adoption of broadband 
service by residents of those States; 
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(xi) the Director of the Institute of 
Museum and Library Services; 
(xii) the Administrator of the Small 
Business Administration; 
(xiii) the Federal Cochairman of the 
Appalachian Regional Commission; and 
(xiv) the head of any other Federal 
agency that the Assistant Secretary deter-
mines to be appropriate; and 
(B) ensure that the Program complements 
and enhances, and does not conflict with, other 
Federal broadband support programs and Uni-
versal Service Fund Programs. 
(3) TRIBAL AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN CONSULTA-
TION AND ENGAGEMENT.—In establishing the Pro-
gram under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary 
shall conduct robust, interactive, pre-decisional, 
transparent consultation with Indian Tribes and Na-
tive Hawaiian organizations. 
(b) ADMINISTERING ENTITY.— 
(1) SELECTION; FUNCTION.—The governor (or 
equivalent official) of a State that wishes to be 
awarded a grant under this section shall, from 
among entities that are eligible under paragraph (2), 
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select an administering entity for that State, which 
shall— 
(A) serve as the recipient of, and admin-
istering agent for, any grant awarded to the 
State under this section; 
(B) develop, implement, and oversee the 
State Digital Equity Plan for the State de-
scribed in subsection (c); 
(C) make subgrants to any of the entities 
described in clauses (i) through (xi) of sub-
section (c)(1)(D) that is located in the State in 
support of— 
(i) the State Digital Equity Plan for 
the State; and 
(ii) digital inclusion activities in the 
State generally; and 
(D) serve as— 
(i) an advocate for digital equity poli-
cies and digital inclusion activities; and 
(ii) a repository of best practice mate-
rials regarding the policies and activities 
described in clause (i). 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Any of the following 
entities may serve as the administering entity for a 
State for the purposes of this section if the entity 
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has demonstrated a capacity to administer the Pro-
gram on a statewide level: 
(A) The State. 
(B) A political subdivision, agency, or in-
strumentality of the State. 
(C) An Indian Tribe located in the State, 
a tribally designated entity located in the State, 
or a Native Hawaiian organization located in 
the State. 
(c) STATE DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT; CONTENTS.—A State that 
wishes to be awarded a grant under subsection (d) 
shall develop a State Digital Equity Plan for the 
State, which shall include— 
(A) an identification of the barriers to dig-
ital equity faced by covered populations in the 
State; 
(B) measurable objectives for documenting 
and promoting, among each group described in 
subparagraphs (A) through (H) of section 2(6) 
located in that State— 
(i) the availability of, and affordability 
of access to, broadband service and tech-
nology needed for the use of broadband 
service; 
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(ii) public awareness of such avail-
ability and affordability and of subsidies 
available to increase such affordability (in-
cluding subsidies available through the 
Lifeline program of the Commission), in-
cluding objectives to— 
(I) inform Medicaid enrollees and 
SNAP participants, and organizations 
that serve Medicaid enrollees and 
SNAP participants, of potential eligi-
bility for the Lifeline program; and 
(II) provide Medicaid enrollees 
and SNAP participants with informa-
tion about the Lifeline program, in-
cluding— 
(aa) how to apply for the 
Lifeline program; and 
(bb) a description of the 
prohibition on more than one 
subscriber in each household re-
ceiving a service provided under 
the Lifeline program; 
(iii) 
the 
online 
accessibility 
and 
inclusivity of public resources and services; 
(iv) digital literacy; 
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(v) awareness of, and the use of, 
measures to secure the online privacy of, 
and cybersecurity with respect to, an indi-
vidual; and 
(vi) the availability and affordability 
of consumer devices and technical support 
for those devices; 
(C) an assessment of how the objectives 
described in subparagraph (B) will impact and 
interact with the State’s— 
(i) economic and workforce develop-
ment goals, plans, and outcomes; 
(ii) educational outcomes; 
(iii) health outcomes; 
(iv) civic and social engagement; and 
(v) delivery of other essential services; 
(D) in order to achieve the objectives de-
scribed in subparagraph (B), a description of 
how the State plans to collaborate with key 
stakeholders in the State, which may include— 
(i) anchor institutions; 
(ii) county and municipal govern-
ments; 
(iii) local educational agencies; 
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(iv) where applicable, Indian Tribes, 
tribally designated entities, or Native Ha-
waiian organizations; 
(v) nonprofit organizations; 
(vi) organizations that represent— 
(I) individuals with disabilities, 
including organizations that represent 
children with disabilities; 
(II) aging individuals; 
(III) individuals with a language 
barrier, including individuals who— 
(aa) are English learners; or 
(bb) have low levels of lit-
eracy; 
(IV) veterans; 
(V) individuals residing in rural 
areas; and 
(VI) incarcerated individuals in 
that State, other than individuals who 
are incarcerated in a Federal correc-
tional facility (including a private fa-
cility operated under contract with the 
Federal Government); 
(vii) civil rights organizations; 
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(viii) entities that carry out workforce 
development programs; 
(ix) agencies of the State that are re-
sponsible for administering or supervising 
adult education and literacy activities in 
the State; 
(x) public housing agencies whose ju-
risdictions are located in the State; and 
(xi) a consortium of any of the enti-
ties described in clauses (i) through (x); 
and 
(E) a list of organizations with which the 
administering entity for the State collaborated 
in developing and implementing the Plan. 
(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The administering enti-
ty for a State shall make the State Digital Eq-
uity Plan of the State available for public com-
ment for a period of not less than 30 days be-
fore the date on which the State submits an ap-
plication to the Assistant Secretary under sub-
section (d)(2). 
(B) CONSIDERATION
OF
COMMENTS
RE-
CEIVED.—The administering entity for a State 
shall, with respect to an application submitted 
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to the Assistant Secretary under subsection 
(d)(2)— 
(i) before submitting the application— 
(I) consider all comments re-
ceived during the comment period de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) with re-
spect to the application (referred to in 
this subparagraph as the ‘‘comment 
period’’); and 
(II) make any changes to the 
plan that the administering entity de-
termines to be appropriate; and 
(ii) when submitting the application— 
(I) describe any changes pursued 
by the administering entity in re-
sponse to comments received during 
the comment period; and 
(II) include a written response to 
each comment received during the 
comment period. 
(3) PLANNING GRANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Beginning in the first 
fiscal year that begins after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary 
shall, in accordance with the requirements of 
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this paragraph, award planning grants to 
States for the purpose of developing the State 
Digital Equity Plans of those States under this 
subsection. 
(B) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be awarded 
a planning grant under this paragraph, a 
State— 
(i) shall submit to the Assistant Sec-
retary an application under subparagraph 
(C); and 
(ii) may not have been awarded, at 
any time, a planning grant under this 
paragraph. 
(C) APPLICATION.—A State that wishes to 
be awarded a planning grant under this para-
graph shall, not later than 60 days after the 
date on which the notice of funding availability 
with respect to the grant is released, submit to 
the Assistant Secretary an application, in a for-
mat to be determined by the Assistant Sec-
retary, that contains the following materials: 
(i) A description of the entity selected 
to serve as the administering entity for the 
State, as described in subsection (b). 
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(ii) A certification from the State 
that, not later than 1 year after the date 
on which the Assistant Secretary awards 
the planning grant to the State, the ad-
ministering entity for that State will sub-
mit to the Assistant Secretary a State Dig-
ital Equity Plan developed under this sub-
section, which will comply with the require-
ments of this subsection, including the re-
quirements of paragraph (2). 
(iii) The assurances required under 
subsection (e). 
(D) AWARDS.— 
(i) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The amount 
of a planning grant awarded to an eligible 
State under this paragraph shall be deter-
mined according to the formula under sub-
section (d)(3)(A)(i). 
(ii) DURATION.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in subclause (II), with respect to 
a planning grant awarded to an eligi-
ble State under this paragraph, the 
State shall expend the grant funds 
during the 1-year period beginning on 
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the date on which the State is award-
ed the grant funds. 
(II) EXCEPTION.—The Assistant 
Secretary may grant an extension of 
not longer than 180 days with respect 
to the requirement under subclause 
(I). 
(iii) CHALLENGE
MECHANISM.—The 
Assistant Secretary shall ensure that any 
eligible State to which a planning grant is 
awarded under this paragraph may appeal 
or otherwise challenge in a timely fashion 
the amount of the grant awarded to the 
State, as determined under clause (i). 
(E) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible State to 
which a planning grant is awarded under this 
paragraph shall, through the administering en-
tity for that State, use the grant funds only for 
the following purposes: 
(i) To develop the State Digital Eq-
uity Plan of the State under this sub-
section. 
(ii)(I) Subject to subclause (II), to 
make subgrants to any of the entities de-
scribed in clauses (i) through (xi) of para-
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graph (1)(D) to assist in the development 
of the State Digital Equity Plan of the 
State under this subsection. 
(II) If the administering entity for a 
State makes a subgrant described in sub-
clause (I), the administering entity shall, 
with respect to the subgrant, provide to the 
State the assurances required under sub-
section (e). 
(d) STATE CAPACITY GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 2 
years after the date on which the Assistant Sec-
retary begins awarding planning grants under sub-
section (c)(3), the Assistant Secretary shall each 
year award grants to eligible States to support— 
(A) the implementation of the State Dig-
ital Equity Plans of those States; and 
(B) digital inclusion activities in those 
States. 
(2) APPLICATION.—A State that wishes to be 
awarded a grant under this subsection shall, not 
later than 60 days after the date on which the notice 
of funding availability with respect to the grant is 
released, submit to the Assistant Secretary an appli-
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108 
low-tier service, and areas with mid-tier service 
and which anchor institutions are unserved an-
chor institutions not later than 270 days after 
the date of the enactment of this section. 
‘‘(C) CHALLENGE OF DETERMINATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Commission 
shall provide for a process for challenging 
any initial determination regarding wheth-
er an area is an unserved area, an area 
with low-tier service, or an area with mid- 
tier service or whether an anchor institu-
tion is an unserved anchor institution that, 
at a minimum, provides not less than 45 
days for a person to voluntarily submit in-
formation concerning— 
‘‘(I) the broadband service of-
fered in the area, or a commitment to 
offer broadband service in the area 
that is subject to legal sanction if not 
performed; or 
‘‘(II) the broadband service of-
fered to the anchor institution. 
‘‘(ii) STREAMLINED
PROCESS.—The 
Commission shall ensure that such process 
is sufficiently streamlined such that a rea-
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