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(2)(B), and that such verification process was 
designed to avoid waste, fraud, and abuse. 
(9) AUDIT REQUIREMENTS.—The Commission 
shall adopt audit requirements to ensure that pro-
viders are in compliance with the requirements of 
this section and to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse 
in the emergency broadband benefit program estab-
lished under this section. 
(c) ELIGIBLE PROVIDERS.—Notwithstanding sub-
section (e) of this section, the Commission shall provide 
a reimbursement to a provider under this section without 
requiring such provider to be designated as an eligible tele-
communications carrier under section 214(e) of the Com-
munications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)). 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall affect the collection, distribution, or administra-
tion of the Lifeline Assistance Program governed by the 
rules set forth in subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
(e) PART 54 REGULATIONS.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to prevent the Commission from pro-
viding that the regulations in part 54 of title 47, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), shall 
apply in whole or in part to support provided under the 
regulations required by subsection (a), shall not apply in 
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whole or in part to such support, or shall be modified in 
whole or in part for purposes of application to such sup-
port. 
(f) ENFORCEMENT.—A violation of this section or a 
regulation promulgated under this section, including the 
knowing or reckless denial of an internet service offering 
discounted by the emergency broadband benefit to an eligi-
ble household that requests such an offering, shall be 
treated as a violation of the Communications Act of 1934 
(47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) or a regulation promulgated under 
such Act. The Commission shall enforce this section and 
the regulations promulgated under this section in the same 
manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdic-
tion, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and 
provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 were incor-
porated into and made a part of this section. 
(g) EXEMPTIONS.— 
(1) NOTICE AND COMMENT RULEMAKING RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Section 553 of title 5, United States 
Code, shall not apply to a regulation promulgated 
under subsection (a) or a rulemaking to promulgate 
such a regulation. 
(2) PAPERWORK
REDUCTION
ACT
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—A collection of information conducted or 
sponsored under the regulations required by sub-
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section (a) shall not constitute a collection of infor-
mation for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 
35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly re-
ferred to as the Paperwork Reduction Act). 
(h) 
EMERGENCY
BROADBAND
CONNECTIVITY 
FUND.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Treasury of the United States a fund to be 
known as the Emergency Broadband Connectivity 
Fund. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Emer-
gency Broadband Connectivity Fund $8,800,000,000 
for fiscal year 2020, to remain available through fis-
cal year 2021. 
(3) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts in the Emer-
gency Broadband Connectivity Fund shall be avail-
able to the Commission for reimbursements to pro-
viders under the regulations required by subsection 
(a). 
(4) RELATIONSHIP
TO
UNIVERSAL
SERVICE 
CONTRIBUTIONS.—Reimbursements provided under 
the regulations required by subsection (a) shall be 
provided from amounts made available under this 
subsection and not from contributions under section 
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254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 254(d)), except the Commission may use 
such contributions if needed to offset expenses asso-
ciated with the reliance on the National Lifeline Eli-
gibility Verifier to determine eligibility of households 
to receive the emergency broadband benefit. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE.— 
The term ‘‘broadband internet access service’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 8.1(b) of 
title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any suc-
cessor regulation). 
(2) CONNECTED
DEVICE.—The term ‘‘con-
nected device’’ means a laptop or desktop computer 
or a tablet. 
(3) ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD.—The term ‘‘eligible 
household’’ means, regardless of whether the house-
hold or any member of the household receives sup-
port under subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), 
and regardless of whether any member of the house-
hold has any past or present arrearages with a pro-
vider, a household in which— 
(A) at least one member of the household 
meets the qualifications in subsection (a) or (b) 
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of section 54.409 of title 47, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation); 
(B) at least one member of the household 
has applied for and been approved to receive 
benefits under the free and reduced price lunch 
program under the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or 
the school breakfast program under section 4 of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1773); or 
(C) at least one member of the household 
has experienced a substantial loss of income 
since February 29, 2020, documented by layoff 
or furlough notice, application for unemploy-
ment insurance benefits, or similar documenta-
tion. 
(4) EMERGENCY
BROADBAND
BENEFIT.—The 
term ‘‘emergency broadband benefit’’ means a 
monthly discount for an eligible household applied to 
the normal rate for an internet service offering, in 
an amount equal to such rate, but not more than 
$50, or, if an internet service offering is provided to 
an eligible household on Tribal land, not more than 
$75. 
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(5) EMERGENCY
PERIOD.—The term ‘‘emer-
gency period’’ means a period that— 
(A) begins on the date of a determination 
by the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) that a public 
health emergency exists as a result of COVID– 
19; and 
(B) ends on the date that is 6 months 
after the date on which such determination (in-
cluding any renewal thereof) terminates, except 
as such period may be extended under sub-
section (b)(4). 
(6) INTERNET SERVICE OFFERING.—The term 
‘‘internet service offering’’ means, with respect to a 
provider, broadband internet access service provided 
by such provider to a household, offered in the same 
manner, and on the same terms, as described in any 
of such provider’s advertisements for broadband 
internet access service to such household, as on May 
1, 2020. 
(7) NORMAL RATE.—The term ‘‘normal rate’’ 
means, with respect to an internet service offering 
by a provider, the advertised monthly retail rate, as 
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of May 1, 2020, including any applicable promotions 
and excluding any taxes or other governmental fees. 
(8) PROVIDER.—The term ‘‘provider’’ means a 
provider of broadband internet access service. 
SEC. 130302. ENHANCED LIFELINE BENEFITS DURING 
EMERGENCY PERIODS. 
(a) ENHANCED MINIMUM SERVICE STANDARDS FOR 
LIFELINE BENEFITS DURING EMERGENCY PERIODS.— 
During an emergency period— 
(1) the minimum service standard for Lifeline 
supported mobile voice service shall provide an un-
limited number of minutes per month; 
(2) the minimum service standard for Lifeline 
supported mobile data service shall provide an un-
limited data allowance each month and 4G speeds, 
where available; and 
(3) the Basic Support Amount and Tribal 
Lands Support Amount, as described in section 
54.403 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
any successor regulation), shall be increased by an 
amount necessary, as determined by the Commis-
sion, to offset any incremental increase in cost asso-
ciated with the requirements in paragraphs (1) and 
(2). 
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(b) EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY PERIOD.—An emer-
gency period may be extended within a State or any por-
tion thereof for a maximum of six months, if the State, 
or in the case of Tribal land, a Tribal government, pro-
vides written, public notice to the Commission stipulating 
that an extension is necessary in furtherance of the recov-
ery related to COVID–19. The Commission shall, within 
48 hours after receiving such notice, post the notice on 
the public website of the Commission. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Commission shall adopt, on 
an expedited basis, any regulations needed to carry out 
this section. 
(d) EMERGENCY PERIOD DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘emergency period’’ means a period that— 
(1) begins on the date of a determination by the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant 
to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 247d) that a public health emergency exists 
as a result of COVID–19; and 
(2) ends on the date that is 6 months after the 
date on which such determination (including any re-
newal thereof) terminates, except as such period 
may be extended under subsection (b). 
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SEC. 130303. GRANTS TO STATES TO STRENGTHEN NA-
TIONAL LIFELINE ELIGIBILITY VERIFIER. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated 
under subsection (d), the Commission shall, not later than 
7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, make 
a grant to each State, in an amount in proportion to the 
population of such State, for the purpose of connecting 
the database used by such State for purposes of the sup-
plemental nutrition assistance program under the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) to the 
National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, so that the receipt 
by a household of benefits under such program is reflected 
in the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier. 
(b) DISBURSEMENT
OF
GRANT
FUNDS.—Funds 
under each grant made under subsection (a) shall be dis-
bursed to the State receiving such grant not later than 
7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) CERTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
21 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commission shall certify to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate that the grants required by subsection (a) have 
been made and that funds have been disbursed as required 
by subsection (b). 
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(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 to carry out 
this section for fiscal year 2020, to remain available 
through fiscal year 2021. 
SEC. 130304. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
(2) 
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). 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 3 of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153). 
TITLE IV—CONTINUED 
CONNECTIVITY 
SEC. 130401. CONTINUED CONNECTIVITY DURING EMER-
GENCY PERIODS RELATING TO COVID–19. 
Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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‘‘SEC. 723. CONTINUED CONNECTIVITY DURING EMER-
GENCY PERIODS RELATING TO COVID–19. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—During an emergency period de-
scribed in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful— 
‘‘(1) for a provider of advanced telecommuni-
cations service or voice service to— 
‘‘(A) terminate, reduce, or change such 
service provided to any individual customer or 
small business because of the inability of the in-
dividual customer or small business to pay for 
such service if the individual customer or small 
business certifies to such provider that such in-
ability to pay is a result of disruptions caused 
by the public health emergency to which such 
emergency period relates; or 
‘‘(B) impose late fees on any individual 
customer or small business because of the in-
ability of the individual customer or small busi-
ness to pay for such service if the individual 
customer or small business certifies to such pro-
vider that such inability to pay is a result of 
disruptions caused by the public health emer-
gency to which such emergency period relates; 
‘‘(2) for a provider of advanced telecommuni-
cations service to, during such emergency period— 
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‘‘(A) employ a limit on the amount of data 
allotted to an individual customer or small busi-
ness during such emergency period, except that 
such provider may engage in reasonable net-
work management; or 
‘‘(B) charge an individual customer or 
small business an additional fee for exceeding 
the limit on the data allotted to an individual 
customer or small business; or 
‘‘(3) for a provider of advanced telecommuni-
cations service that had functioning Wi-Fi hotspots 
available to subscribers in public places on the day 
before the beginning of such emergency period to 
fail to make service provided by such Wi-Fi hotspots 
available to the public at no cost during such emer-
gency period. 
‘‘(b) WAIVER.—Upon a petition by a provider ad-
vanced telecommunications service or voice service, the 
provisions in subsection (a) may be suspended or waived 
by the Commission at any time, in whole or in part, for 
good cause shown. 
‘‘(c) EMERGENCY PERIODS DESCRIBED.—An emer-
gency period described in this subsection is any portion 
beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this 
section of the duration of a public health emergency de-
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