Local Telecom Expansion Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2665 | Sponsor: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson (R-NJ)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Local Telecom Expansion Act of 2021
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program for awarding grants to states for the deployment of broadband service in underserved areas by small business broadband providers.
A state that receives such a grant must use the funds to make subgrants to small business broadband providers that enable those providers to deploy broadband service in underserved areas in the state. This broadband service must have (1) a download speed of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps); (2) an upload speed of at least 10 Mbps; and (3) latency that is sufficiently low to allow real-time, interactive applications.

To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program 
  to make grants to States for the deployment of broadband service in 
underserved areas by small business broadband providers, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Local Telecom Expansion Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. SMALL BUSINESS BROADBAND PROVIDER GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Commission shall establish a program to 
make grants on a competitive basis to States for the deployment of 
broadband service in underserved areas by small business broadband 
providers.
    (b) Eligibility of States.--The Commission may only award a grant 
under this section to a State that--
            (1) meets such eligibility criteria as the Commission may 
        establish; and
            (2) submits an application at such time, in such form, and 
        with such information and assurances as the Commission may 
        require.
    (c) Subgrants to Small Business Broadband Providers.--A State that 
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to make 
subgrants to small business broadband providers to enable such 
providers to deploy broadband service in underserved areas in the 
State.
    (d) Use of Subgrant Funds.--A small business broadband provider 
that receives a subgrant from a State under subsection (c) shall use 
the subgrant funds to deploy, in underserved areas in the State, 
broadband service with--
            (1) a download speed of at least 25 megabits per second;
            (2) an upload speed of at least 10 megabits per second; and
            (3) latency that is sufficiently low to allow real-time, 
        interactive applications.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Broadband service.--The term ``broadband service'' 
        means broadband internet access service (as defined in section 
        8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any 
        successor regulation)).
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (3) Small business broadband provider.--The term ``small 
        business broadband provider'' means a provider of broadband 
        service that is a small business concern (as defined under 
        section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)).
            (4) 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.
            (5) Underserved area.--The term ``underserved area'' means 
        an area in which only 1 provider of broadband service offers 
        broadband service with--
                    (A) a download speed of at least 25 megabits per 
                second and not more than 99 megabits per second;
                    (B) an upload speed of at least 10 megabits per 
                second; and
                    (C) latency that is sufficiently low to allow real-
                time, interactive applications.
                                 <all>