7 U.S.C. § 950bb–1 (AGRICULTURE)
§ 950bb–1. National Center for Rural Telecommunications Assessment
(a) Designation of Center
The Secretary shall designate an entity to serve as the National Center for Rural Telecommunications Assessment (referred to in this section as the “Center”).
(b) Criteria
In designating the Center under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration the following criteria:
(1) The Center shall be an entity that demonstrates to the Secretary—
(A) a focus on rural policy research; and
(B) a minimum of 5 years of experience relating to rural telecommunications research and assessment.
(2) The Center shall be capable of assessing broadband services in rural areas.
(3) The Center shall have significant experience involving other rural economic development centers and organizations with respect to the assessment of rural policies and the formulation of policy solutions at the Federal, State, and local levels.
(c) Board of directors
The Center shall be managed by a board of directors, which shall be responsible for the duties of the Center described in subsection (d).
(d) Duties
The Center shall—
(1) assess the effectiveness of programs carried out under this subchapter in increasing broadband penetration and purchase in rural areas, especially in rural communities identified by the Secretary as having no broadband service before the provision of a loan or loan guarantee under this subchapter;
(2) work with existing rural development centers selected by the Center to identify policies and initiatives at the Federal, State, and local levels that have increased broadband penetration and purchase in rural areas and provide recommendations to Federal, State, and local policymakers on effective strategies to bring affordable broadband services to residents of rural areas, particularly residents located outside of the municipal boundaries of a rural city or town; and
(3) develop and publish reports describing the activities carried out by the Center under this section.
(e) Reporting requirements
Not later than December 1 of each applicable fiscal year, the board of directors of the Center shall submit to Congress and the Secretary a report describing the activities carried out by the Center during the preceding fiscal year and the results of any research conducted by the Center during that fiscal year, including—
(1) an assessment of each program carried out under this subchapter; and
(2) an assessment of the effects of the policy initiatives identified under subsection (d)(2).
(f) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
(May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title VI, § 602, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title VI, § 6111, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1203, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VI, § 6111, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1965.)
heading: Codification
text: Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
heading: Effective Date
text: Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title.