Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act of 2021
Bill: S.326 | Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Commerce to conduct a biennial assessment and analysis regarding the contribution of the digital economy to the U.S. economy.
In conducting this assessment, Commerce must consider the impact of (1) the deployment and adoption of digital-enabling infrastructure and broadband, (2) various kinds of e-commerce, and (3) the production and consumption of digital media.

To require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and 
  analysis of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the 
         economy of the United States, 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 ``Measuring the Economic Impact of 
Broadband Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS REGARDING THE EFFECT OF THE DIGITAL 
              ECONOMY ON THE ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Environment and Public Works 
                of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Small Business and 
                Entrepreneurship of the Senate;
                    (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    (E) the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
                    (F) the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' 
        means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
        and Information.
            (3) Broadband.--The term ``broadband'' means an Internet 
        Protocol-based transmission service that enables users to send 
        and receive voice, video, data, or graphics, or a combination 
        of those items.
            (4) Digital economy.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                term ``digital economy'' has the meaning given the term 
                by the Secretary in carrying out this section.
                    (B) Considerations.--In establishing a definition 
                for the term ``digital economy'' under subparagraph 
                (A), the Secretary shall consider--
                            (i) the digital-enabling infrastructure 
                        that a computer network needs to exist and 
                        operate; and
                            (ii) the roles of e-commerce and digital 
                        media.
            (5) Digital media.--The term ``digital media'' means the 
        content that participants in e-commerce create and access.
            (6) E-commerce.--The term ``e-commerce'' means the digital 
        transactions that take place using the infrastructure described 
        in paragraph (4)(B)(i).
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
    (b) Biennial Assessment and Analysis Required.--Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially 
thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the 
Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce and the 
Assistant Secretary, shall conduct an assessment and analysis regarding 
the contribution of the digital economy to the economy of the United 
States.
    (c) Considerations and Consultation.--In conducting each assessment 
and analysis required under subsection (b), the Secretary shall--
            (1) consider the impact of--
                    (A) the deployment and adoption of--
                            (i) digital-enabling infrastructure; and
                            (ii) broadband;
                    (B) e-commerce and platform-enabled peer-to-peer 
                commerce; and
                    (C) the production and consumption of digital 
                media, including free media; and
            (2) consult with--
                    (A) the heads of any agencies and offices of the 
                Federal Government as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate, including the Secretary of Agriculture, 
                the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 
                Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and 
                the Federal Communications Commission;
                    (B) representatives of the business community, 
                including rural and urban internet service providers 
                and telecommunications infrastructure providers;
                    (C) representatives from State, local, and tribal 
                government agencies; and
                    (D) representatives from consumer and community 
                organizations.
    (d) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report regarding the findings of the Secretary 
with respect to each assessment and analysis conducted under subsection 
(b).
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