A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with data transmission due to increased network usage.
Bill: S.2965 | Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike (R-IN)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to analyze current and projected demands for data transmission on rural broadband networks and publish a report of its findings. The analysis must include, for example, estimates of the quantity of data transmitted and certain unrecovered costs to rural broadband providers associated with those transmissions.

To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current 
and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with data 
              transmission due to increased network usage.

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

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (2) Covered period.--The term ``covered period'' means the 
        6-year period that--
                    (A) begins on the date that is 3 years before the 
                date on which the proceeding under section 2(a)(1) is 
                initiated; and
                    (B) ends on the date that is 3 years after the date 
                on which the proceeding under section 2(a)(1) is 
                initiated.
            (3) High-cost rural area.--The term ``high-cost rural 
        area'' means an area of the United States that is not contained 
        within an incorporated city or town with a population of more 
        than 20,000 inhabitants.
            (4) Qualifying broadband service.--The term ``qualifying 
        broadband service'' means broadband service with measurable 
        speeds of not less than the speeds required for the service to 
        qualify as an advanced telecommunications capability, as that 
        term is defined in section 706(d) of the Telecommunications Act 
        of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 1302(d)).
            (5) Rural broadband network.--The term ``rural broadband 
        network'' means the plant, equipment, components, facilities, 
        hardware, and software used by a rural broadband provider to 
        provide qualifying broadband service in a high-cost rural area.
            (6) Rural broadband provider.--The term ``rural broadband 
        provider'' means an entity that--
                    (A) provides qualifying broadband service in a 
                high-cost rural area using any terrestrial technology, 
                including a fixed or mobile wireless or wireline 
                network; and
                    (B) provides qualifying broadband service to fewer 
                than 250,000 customers.

SEC. 2. RURAL BROADBAND NETWORK ADVANCEMENT STUDY.

    (a) Proceeding by FCC.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Initiation.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
                initiate a proceeding to analyze the demands that have 
                been or will be placed on rural broadband networks 
                during the covered period that are associated with data 
                transmitted over those networks.
                    (B) Conclusion.--Not later than 1 year after 
                initiating the proceeding under subparagraph (A), the 
                Commission shall conclude the proceeding.
            (2) Matters for analysis.--The analysis conducted under 
        paragraph (1) shall include the following:
                    (A) Estimation and analysis of network usage.--
                            (i) Overall data transfers.--An estimate of 
                        the quantity of data that has been or will be 
                        transmitted over rural broadband networks 
                        during the covered period.
                            (ii) Categories of network usage.--An 
                        analysis of the quantity of data that has been 
                        or will be transmitted over rural broadband 
                        networks during the covered period broken down 
                        by content owner, licensor, or distributor, in 
                        order to produce an estimate of network usage 
                        by type of content, use, and purpose.
                    (B) Calculation of costs.--
                            (i) In general.--A calculation of the costs 
                        to rural broadband providers during the covered 
                        period associated with transmission of data 
                        over rural broadband networks that are not 
                        already recovered through--
                                    (I) user rates that are reasonably 
                                comparable to user rates in urban 
                                areas; or
                                    (II) Federal programs aimed at 
                                promoting rural broadband deployment or 
                                sustaining rural broadband networks, 
                                including Federal universal service 
                                support programs established under 
                                section 254 of the Communications Act 
                                of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254).
                            (ii) Costs described.--The categories of 
                        costs to be calculated under clause (i) shall 
                        include costs associated with--
                                    (I) the initial deployment of rural 
                                broadband networks;
                                    (II) the operation and maintenance 
                                of rural broadband networks; and
                                    (III) the delivery of services to 
                                users over rural broadband networks, 
                                including the transmission of data 
                                between high-cost rural areas and urban 
                                or suburban interconnection points.
            (3) Provision of information.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, a rural broadband provider may disclose to 
        the Commission--
                    (A) the quantity of data transmitted over rural 
                broadband networks of the provider, broken down by 
                content owner, licensor, or distributor; and
                    (B) any other information necessary for the 
                Commission to complete the proceeding under paragraph 
                (1).
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 120 days after concluding 
the proceeding under subsection (a)(1), the Commission shall publish on 
its website and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the 
proceeding.
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