I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4128 
To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband 
internet service coverage data, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 30, 2019 
Mr. LUJA´N (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of 
Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile 
broadband internet service coverage data, 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 ‘‘Map Improvement Act 
of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist-
ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Communications and Information. 
(2) BROADBAND
INTERNET
SERVICE.—The 
term ‘‘broadband internet service’’— 
(A) means mass-market retail service by 
wire or radio that provides the capability to 
transmit data to and receive data from all or 
substantially all internet endpoints, including 
any capabilities that are incidental to and en-
able the operation of the communications serv-
ice; 
(B) includes any service that the Commis-
sion finds to be providing a functional equiva-
lent of the service described in subparagraph 
(A) or that is used to evade the protections set 
forth in part 8 of title 47, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations, or any successor thereto; and 
(C) does not include dial-up internet serv-
ice. 
(3) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
(4) END USER.—The term ‘‘end user’’ means 
any individual or entity that uses a broadband inter-
net service. 
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(5) FIXED BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.— 
The term ‘‘fixed broadband internet service’’ 
means— 
(A) a broadband internet service that 
serves end users primarily at fixed endpoints 
using stationary equipment; and 
(B) includes fixed wireless services, includ-
ing fixed unlicensed wireless services, and fixed 
satellite services. 
(6) GIS.—The term ‘‘GIS’’ means geographic 
information systems. 
(7) MOBILE BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.— 
The term ‘‘mobile broadband internet service’’ shall 
have the meaning given such term by the Commis-
sion for purposes of this Act. 
(8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each 
State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 
each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 
United States, and each federally recognized Indian 
Tribe. 
SEC. 3. COLLECTION AND MAPPING OF FIXED AND MOBILE 
BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE COVERAGE. 
(a) STANDARDIZED METHODOLOGY RULE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, 
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in coordination with the Assistant Secretary, shall 
promulgate a final rule to establish a standardized 
methodology for collecting and mapping accurate 
fixed 
broadband 
internet 
service 
and 
mobile 
broadband internet service coverage data in the 
United States, which shall— 
(A) ensure that coverage data for fixed 
broadband 
internet 
service 
and 
mobile 
broadband internet service is collected in a 
standardized, consistent, and robust manner; 
(B) improve the validity and reliability of 
coverage data; 
(C) increase the efficiency of coverage data 
collection; 
(D) contain standard definitions for dif-
ferent speed tiers, such as the 2G, 3G, 4G, and 
4G LTE tiers and the equivalent for fixed 
broadband internet service; 
(E) ensure that the collection and valida-
tion process occurs on a regular basis; and 
(F) establish a standardized ongoing vali-
dation process and public feedback mechanism 
that will allow for consumers, State and local 
officials, and broadband internet service pro-
viders to submit data to the Commission to 
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verify coverage data from broadband internet 
service providers and challenge any aspects of 
such data believed to be inaccurate. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating the 
rule required under paragraph (1), the Commission 
shall consider— 
(A) coordinating with the Postmaster Gen-
eral, the heads of other Federal agencies that 
operate delivery fleet vehicles, and the Director 
of the Bureau of the Census for assistance with 
data collection and the feasibility of using more 
granular address level data; and 
(B) creating 1 centralized national map 
with multiple layers, including a layer each for 
fixed broadband internet service and mobile 
broadband internet service, which may be used 
in determining eligibility for all Federal 
broadband internet service grant, loan, and sub-
sidy programs. 
(3) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
OFFICE.—The Com-
mission shall establish an Office of Broadband Data 
Collection and Mapping within the Commission to 
serve as the central point of collection, aggregation, 
and validation of data collected under the standard-
ized methodology established under this subsection. 
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(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall establish a technical assistance program under 
which the Assistant Secretary shall provide grants to 
State and local entities, such as regional planning 
organizations, to— 
(A) assist such entities with mapping and 
the development of a GIS-based map of existing 
fixed broadband internet service and mobile 
broadband internet service; and 
(B) assess current broadband internet 
service adoption rates and advertised broadband 
internet service pricing in the community. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds received under this 
subsection— 
(A) shall be used to— 
(i) carry out the activities described in 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph 
(1); and 
(ii) participate in the standardized on-
going validation process and public feed-
back mechanism described in subsection 
(a)(1)(F); and 
(B) may be used to purchase GIS software 
and for technical assistance with that software. 
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(3) OTHER
USES
FOR
GIS
SOFTWARE.—A 
grantee may use GIS software acquired using funds 
received under this subsection for other purposes in 
addition to broadband internet service mapping. 
Æ 
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