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103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2639
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
NOVEMBER 9 (legislative day, NOVEMBER 2), 1993
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
AN ACT
To authorize appropriations for the promotion and develop-
ment of the United States national telecommunications
and information infrastructure, the construction and
planning of public broadcasting facilities, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Telecommunications
Infrastructure and Facilities Assistance Act of 1993’’.
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) A strong commitment to building the na-
tional telecommunications and information infra-
structure will promote economic growth, aid Ameri-
ca’s competitiveness, and increase the Nation’s
standard of living.
(2) An advanced telecommunications and infor-
mation infrastructure initiative serves the national
interest.
(3) Private sector investments in the United
States telecommunications and information infra-
structure can benefit from a Federal investment in
demonstration projects in which advanced tele-
communications capabilities are used to aid the de-
livery of critical social services such as education and
health care traditionally supported by government.
(4) Government funding of demonstrations and
pilot projects of telecommunications and information
infrastructure applications for health care providers,
educational institutions, research facilities, State and
local governments, libraries, and other social service
and public information providers can serve as a cat-
alyst in promoting increased private sector invest-
ment in, and continued development of, the national
telecommunications and information infrastructure.
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(5) Federal assistance in the promotion of the
national telecommunications and information infra-
structure will use a wide range of technologies in-
cluding, but not limited to, broadcast, fiber optic
cable, coaxial cable, satellite systems, and microwave
systems.
(6) Providing assistance to help eligible entities
connect to and fully utilize existing and developing
telecommunications networks and information serv-
ices is in the public interest.
(7) There are tremendous information resources
in the Nation, but the benefits of an advanced tele-
communications and information infrastructure will
be enhanced when United States citizens have rea-
sonable access to such existing and future informa-
tion resources.
(8) Federal support of public broadcasting has
helped provide valuable and useful educational and
cultural programs that reach nearly all citizens of
the United States.
(9) The Federal Government shall ensure that
all citizens of the United States have access to pub-
lic telecommunications services through all appro-
priate 
available 
telecommunications 
distribution
technologies.
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(10) Public telecommunications entities and
services constitute valuable local community re-
sources for utilizing electronic media to address na-
tional concerns and solve local problems through
community programs.
(11) The Federal Government should encourage
partnerships to adapt technologies to public service
uses in a cost-effective manner, utilizing and main-
taining existing facilities where appropriate and ef-
fective, and to avoid duplicate services or capacities
which are currently provided by public telecommuni-
cations entities.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMA-
TION INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.
(a) AMENDMENTS TO THE NTIAO ACT.—The Na-
tional Telecommunications and Information Administra-
tion Organization Act is amended—
(1) by redesignating part C as part F; and
(2) by inserting after part B the following new
parts:
‘‘PART C—PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF
PUBLIC BROADCASTING FACILITIES
‘‘SEC. 121. PURPOSE.
‘‘The purpose of this part is to assist, through match-
ing grants, in the planning and construction of public
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broadcasting facilities in order to achieve the following ob-
jectives:
‘‘(1) extend delivery of public broadcasting serv-
ices to as many citizens of the United States as pos-
sible by the most efficient and economical means, in-
cluding broadcast, fiber optic cable, coaxial cable,
satellite systems, and microwave systems;
‘‘(2) increase public broadcasting services and
facilities available to, operated by, and owned by mi-
norities and women; and
‘‘(3) strengthen the capability of existing public
broadcasting entities to provide public broadcasting
services to the public.
‘‘SEC. 122. GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION.
‘‘(a) APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS.—Any eligible ap-
plicant (as described in paragraph (1)) desiring to obtain
a grant under this part for the construction of public
broadcasting facilities shall submit to the Secretary an ap-
plication containing such information with respect to the
proposed construction project as the Secretary may re-
quire, including the total cost of such project and the
amount of the grant requested for such project. Each ap-
plicant shall also provide assurances satisfactory to the
Secretary that—
‘‘(1) the applicant is—