I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9343 
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to improve access by Indian 
Tribes to support from universal service programs of the Federal Com-
munications Commission, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 17, 2022 
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to improve ac-
cess by Indian Tribes to support from universal service 
programs of the Federal Communications Commission, 
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 ‘‘Tribal Connect Act 
of 2022’’. 
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47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any suc-
cessor regulations), as authorized under sub-
section (h)(2)(A); 
‘‘(D) the term ‘essential community-serv-
ing institution’ means a facility exclusively 
owned by an Indian Tribe, including— 
‘‘(i) a Tribal government building, 
chapter house, longhouse, community cen-
ter, senior center, or after-school facility; 
or 
‘‘(ii) any other public building similar 
to a building described in clause (i); 
‘‘(E) the term ‘High-Cost Program’ means 
the program under which universal service sup-
port is awarded in high-cost areas in accord-
ance with subpart D of part 54 of title 47, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulations), as authorized under subsection (e); 
and 
‘‘(F) the term ‘Indian Tribe’ has the 
meaning given the term ‘Indian tribe’ in section 
20.100 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or any successor regulation). 
‘‘(2) TRIBAL ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY-SERVING 
INSTITUTION PILOT PROGRAM.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of the Tribal 
Connect Act of 2022, the Commission, in con-
sultation with the Institute of Museum and Li-
brary Services and any other agency with rel-
evant responsibilities, shall establish, as part of 
the universal service support programs carried 
out under this section, either as part of the 
High-Cost Program or as a standalone uni-
versal service pilot program, a pilot program to 
be known as the ‘Tribal Essential Community- 
Serving Institution Program’— 
‘‘(i) under which the Commission 
shall— 
‘‘(I) provide an opportunity for 
Indian Tribes to request broadband 
internet access service at essential 
community-serving institutions located 
on Tribal land; and 
‘‘(II) authorize support for the 
development of infrastructure to pro-
vide the services requested under sub-
clause (I) in a manner similar to the 
deployment 
supported 
under 
the 
High-Cost Program; and 
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‘‘(ii) which shall remain in effect 
through the end of fiscal year 2025. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—Universal service sup-
port obtained under this paragraph shall only 
be available if the applicable essential commu-
nity-serving institution intends to deliver pub-
licly available broadband internet access service 
and telecommunications services to students, 
teachers, librarians, and members of the com-
munity. 
‘‘(C) ELIGIBILITY
FOR
SUPPORT
AFTER 
THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.—An essential 
community-serving institution that receives uni-
versal service support under this paragraph 
shall, after the conclusion of the pilot program 
described in subparagraph (A), be eligible for 
universal service support through existing (as of 
the date on which that pilot program concludes) 
and future universal service fund programs. 
‘‘(D) 
USE
OF
CONTRIBUTIONS.—Of 
amounts collected under subsection (d), not 
more than $300,000,000 shall be made avail-
able to carry out the pilot program described in 
subparagraph (A). 
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‘‘(3) TRAINING
AND
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE 
FOR INDIAN TRIBES AND ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY- 
SERVING INSTITUTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE; 
ANNUAL 
REPORTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Commission 
shall— 
‘‘(I) direct the administrator of 
the universal service support pro-
grams under this section to— 
‘‘(aa) provide technical as-
sistance to ensure that Indian 
Tribes can participate fully and 
effectively in the universal service 
programs, including the E-rate 
program, 
including 
by 
con-
ducting— 
‘‘(AA) outreach efforts 
targeted to Tribal schools 
and libraries, essential com-
munity-serving institutions, 
and Indian Tribes that do 
not have schools and librar-
ies to promote awareness of 
the E-rate program and the 
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demonstration 
programs; 
and 
‘‘(BB) specific training 
programs for Tribal schools 
and libraries, essential com-
munity-serving institutions, 
and Indian Tribes; and 
‘‘(bb) submit to the Com-
mission an annual report regard-
ing the provision of the technical 
assistance required under item 
(aa) during the year covered by 
the report; and 
‘‘(II) submit each annual report 
received under subclause (I)(bb) to— 
‘‘(aa) the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate; 
‘‘(bb) the Committee on In-
dian Affairs of the Senate; 
‘‘(cc) the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives; and 
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‘‘(dd) the Committee on 
Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives. 
‘‘(ii) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated $25,000,000 to provide the tech-
nical assistance required under clause 
(i)(I)(aa) for fiscal years 2022 through 
2025. 
‘‘(B) REVIEW OF ANNUAL REPORTS.—The 
Commission shall— 
‘‘(i) review each annual report re-
ceived under subparagraph (A)(i)(I)(bb) to 
determine whether additional steps are 
necessary to ensure that Indian Tribes can 
participate fully and effectively in the uni-
versal service programs, including the E- 
rate program, so that all students who are 
members of Indian Tribes can have access 
to robust, high-speed broadband internet 
access service connections; and 
‘‘(ii) in conducting a review required 
under clause (i), consider the resources 
available to Tribal members through the 
entity responsible for administering the 
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universal 
service 
programs 
established 
under this section. 
‘‘(C) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Institute of 
Museum and Library Services, in coordina-
tion with the Commission and the entity 
responsible for administering the universal 
service programs established under this 
section, shall make direct grants to essen-
tial community-serving institutions and In-
dian Tribes for technical assistance initia-
tives regarding the application process for 
the E-rate program and the pilot program 
established under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(ii) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated $25,000,000 to make the grants 
described in clause (i). 
‘‘(4) COORDINATION AND PERFORMANCE MEAS-
UREMENT.—The Commission shall— 
‘‘(A) improve the reliability of the data of 
the Commission relating to institutions that re-
ceive universal service support by defining the 
term ‘Tribal’ on the application for any such 
support; 
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‘‘(B) develop performance goals and meas-
ures to track progress on achieving the stra-
tegic objective of the Commission of ensuring 
that all Indian Tribes have affordable access to 
broadband internet access service for edu-
cational purposes for students, teachers, librar-
ians, and members of the community; 
‘‘(C) in coordination with the Institute of 
Museum and Library Services, identify, in the 
United States, all— 
‘‘(i) Tribal libraries; 
‘‘(ii) developing Tribal libraries; and 
‘‘(iii) Indian Tribes without adequate 
library services; and 
‘‘(D) not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of the Tribal Connect Act of 
2022, submit to Congress and make public a 
report on the goals and measures developed 
under subparagraph (B) and the list of libraries 
and Indian Tribes identified under subpara-
graph (C). 
‘‘(n) APPOINTMENT OF TRIBAL MEMBER; EXPAN-
SION OF OFFICE.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of the Tribal Connect Act of 2022, the Com-
mission shall require the entity responsible for admin-
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istering the universal service programs established under 
this section to— 
‘‘(1) appoint a member of an Indian Tribe, as 
defined in subsection (m)(1), to the board of direc-
tors of that entity; and 
‘‘(2) create or expand the office of that entity 
dealing with matters affecting Indian Tribes, as de-
fined in subsection (m)(1).’’. 
Æ 
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