Title: Connecting Minority Communities Act of 2020
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Connecting Minority Communities Act of 2020
This bill establishes the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives, the Connecting Minority Communities Task Force, and the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program to facilitate, foster, and fund broadband internet access service and digital literacy in minority communities.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4422 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4422

 To establish the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives within the 
  National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 4, 2020

Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives within the 
  National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 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 ``Connecting Minority Communities Act 
of 2020''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``anchor community'' means any area that--
                    (A) is not more than 30 miles from a historically 
                Black college or university, a Tribal College or 
                University, or a Hispanic-serving institution; and
                    (B) has an estimated median annual household income 
                of not more than 250 percent of the poverty line, as 
                that term is defined in section 673(2) of the Community 
                Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2));
            (2) the term ``Assistant Secretary'' means the Assistant 
        Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information;
            (3) the term ``broadband internet access service'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation;
            (4) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission;
            (5) the term ``connected device'' means a laptop computer, 
        tablet computer, or similar device that is capable of 
        connecting to broadband internet access service;
            (6) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office;
            (7) the term ``eligible equipment'' means--
                    (A) a Wi-Fi hotspot;
                    (B) a modem;
                    (C) a router;
                    (D) a device that combines a modem and router;
                    (E) a connected device; or
                    (F) any other equipment used to provide access to 
                broadband internet access service;
            (8) the term ``eligible recipient'' means--
                    (A) a historically Black college or university;
                    (B) a Tribal College or University;
                    (C) a Hispanic-serving institution; or
                    (D) a consortium led by a historically Black 
                college or university, a Tribal College or University, 
                or a Hispanic-serving institution that also includes--
                            (i) an elementary or secondary school;
                            (ii) a library;
                            (iii) a minority business enterprise; or
                            (iv) an organization described in section 
                        501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
                        and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of 
                        such Code;
            (9) the term ``Hispanic-serving institution'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 502(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a));
            (10) the term ``historically Black college or university'' 
        has the meaning given the term ``part B institution'' in 
        section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1061);
            (11) the term ``minority business enterprise'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 1400.2 of title 15, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation;
            (12) the term ``Office'' means the Office of Minority 
        Broadband Initiatives established pursuant to section 3(a);
            (13) the term ``Pilot Program'' means the Connecting 
        Minority Communities Pilot Program established under the rules 
        promulgated by the Assistant Secretary under section 5(a);
            (14) the term ``Task Force'' means the Connecting Minority 
        Communities Task Force established under section 4(a); and
            (15) the term ``Tribal College or University'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 316(b) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF MINORITY BROADBAND INITIATIVES.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish within 
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration the 
Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives.
    (b) Director.--The Office shall be headed by the Director of the 
Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives, who shall be appointed by the 
Assistant Secretary.
    (c) Duties.--The Office, acting through the Director, shall--
            (1) collaborate with Federal agencies that carry out 
        broadband internet access service support programs to determine 
        how to expand access to broadband internet access service and 
        other digital opportunities in anchor communities;
            (2) collaborate with State, local, and Tribal governments, 
        historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges or 
        Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and stakeholders 
        in the telecommunications, education, business, and technology 
        fields to--
                    (A) promote--
                            (i) initiatives relating to broadband 
                        internet access service connectivity for anchor 
                        communities; and
                            (ii) digital opportunities for anchor 
                        communities;
                    (B) develop recommendations to promote the rapid, 
                expanded deployment of broadband internet access 
                service to unserved historically Black colleges or 
                universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, 
                Hispanic-serving institutions, and anchor communities, 
                including to senior citizens and veterans who live in 
                anchor communities;
                    (C) promote activities that would accelerate the 
                adoption of broadband internet access service 
                (including any associated equipment or personnel 
                necessary to access and use that service, such as 
                modems, routers, devices that combine a modem and a 
                router, Wi-Fi hotspots, and connected devices)--
                            (i) by historically Black colleges or 
                        universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, 
                        and Hispanic-serving institutions; and
                            (ii) within anchor communities;
                    (D) upon request, provide assistance to 
                historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal 
                Colleges or Universities, Hispanic-serving 
                institutions, and leaders from anchor communities with 
                respect to navigating Federal programs dealing with 
                broadband internet access service;
                    (E) promote digital literacy skills, including by 
                providing opportunities for virtual or in-person 
                digital literacy training and education; and
                    (F) explore how to leverage investment in 
                infrastructure with respect to broadband internet 
                access service to--
                            (i) expand connectivity with respect to 
                        that service in anchor communities;
                            (ii) encourage investment in communities 
                        that have been designated as qualified 
                        opportunity zones under section 1400Z-1 of the 
                        Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
                            (iii) serve as a catalyst for adoption of 
                        that service, so as to promote job growth and 
                        economic development and deployment of advanced 
                        mobile technologies;
            (3) assume any functions carried out under the Minority 
        Broadband Initiative of the National Telecommunications and 
        Information Administration, as of the day before the date of 
        enactment of this Act; and
            (4) perform other duties, as designated by the Assistant 
        Secretary.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
        which the Assistant Secretary establishes the Office under 
        subsection (a), and annually thereafter, the Assistant 
        Secretary shall 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 that--
                    (A) for the year covered by the report, details the 
                work of the Office in expanding access to fixed and 
                mobile broadband internet access service coverage--
                            (i) at historically Black colleges or 
                        universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, 
                        and Hispanic-serving institutions; and
                            (ii) within anchor communities; and
                    (B) identifies barriers to providing broadband 
                internet access service--
                            (i) at historically Black colleges or 
                        universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, 
                        and Hispanic-serving institutions; and
                            (ii) within anchor communities.
            (2) Public availability.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        date on which the Assistant Secretary submits a report under 
        paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall, to the extent 
        feasible, make that report publicly available.

SEC. 4. TASK FORCE.

    (a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish the 
Connecting Minority Communities Task Force to advise the Office on 
matters relating to expanding broadband internet access service to 
historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges or 
Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and anchor communities.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Task Force shall--
                    (A) be composed of not more than 15 voting 
                members--
                            (i) who, subject to subparagraph (B), shall 
                        be selected by the Assistant Secretary; and
                            (ii) 1 of whom shall be designated by the 
                        Assistant Secretary as the Chair of the Task 
                        Force; and
                    (B) include representatives (who shall be fairly 
                balanced with respect to technologies, points of view, 
                and fields represented) from--
                            (i) historically Black colleges or 
                        universities;
                            (ii) Tribal Colleges or Universities;
                            (iii) Hispanic-serving institutions;
                            (iv) anchor communities;
                            (v) minority business enterprises;
                            (vi) internet service providers, including 
                        regional or rural fixed and mobile broadband 
                        internet access service providers and 
                        telecommunications infrastructure providers;
                            (vii) the electric cooperative industry;
                            (viii) the satellite industry;
                            (ix) State and local governments; and
                            (x) civil rights organizations.
            (2) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
                    (A) In general.--Each member of the Task Force 
                shall serve for a single term of 2 years.
                    (B) Vacancy.--Any vacancy in the Task Force--
                            (i) shall not affect the powers of the Task 
                        Force; and
                            (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
                        the original appointment.
                    (C) Ex-officio member.--The Chairman of the 
                Commission, or a designee of the Chairman, shall serve 
                as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the Task Force.
    (c) Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to 
the Task Force or the activities of the Task Force.

SEC. 5. CONNECTING MINORITY COMMUNITIES PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Rules Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall promulgate 
        rules establishing the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot 
        Program, the purpose of which shall be to provide grants to 
        eligible recipients in anchor communities for the purchase of 
        broadband internet access service or any eligible equipment, or 
        to hire information technology personnel--
                    (A) to facilitate educational instruction and 
                learning, including through remote instruction;
                    (B) in the case of an eligible recipient described 
                in section 2(8)(D)(iii), to operate the minority 
                business enterprise; or
                    (C) in the case of an eligible recipient described 
                in section 2(8)(D)(iv), to operate the organization.
            (2) Content.--The rules promulgated under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) establish a method for identifying which 
                eligible recipients in anchor communities have the 
                greatest unmet financial needs;
                    (B) ensure that grants under the Pilot Program are 
                made--
                            (i) to eligible recipients identified under 
                        the method established under subparagraph (A); 
                        and
                            (ii) in a manner that best achieves the 
                        purposes of the Pilot Program;
                    (C) provide that a recipient of a grant under the 
                Pilot Program--
                            (i) shall use eligible equipment for a 
                        purpose that the recipient considers to be 
                        appropriate, subject to any restriction 
                        provided in those rules (or any successor 
                        rules);
                            (ii) if the recipient lends, or otherwise 
                        provides, eligible equipment to students or 
                        patrons, shall prioritize lending or providing 
                        to such individuals that the recipient believes 
                        do not have access to that equipment, subject 
                        to any restriction provided in those rules (or 
                        any successor rules); and
                            (iii) may not sell or otherwise transfer 
                        eligible equipment in exchange for any thing 
                        (including a service) of value; and
                    (D) include audit requirements that--
                            (i) ensure that a recipient of a grant made 
                        under the Pilot Program uses grant funds in 
                        compliance with the requirements of this 
                        section and the overall purpose of the Pilot 
                        Program; and
                            (ii) prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the 
                        operation of the Pilot Program.
    (b) Fund.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
        the United States a fund to be known as the Connecting Minority 
        Communities Fund.
            (2) Use of fund.--Amounts in the Connecting Minority 
        Communities Fund established under paragraph (1) shall be 
        available to the Assistant Secretary to provide support under 
        the rules promulgated under subsection (a).
    (c) Interagency Coordination.--When making grants under the Pilot 
Program, the Assistant Secretary shall coordinate with other Federal 
agencies, including the Commission and the Department of Education.
    (d) Audits.--
            (1) In general.--For each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022, 
        the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce shall 
        conduct an audit of the Pilot Program according to the 
        requirements established under subsection (a)(2)(D).
            (2) Report.--After completing each audit conducted under 
        paragraph (1), the Inspector General of the Department of 
        Commerce shall 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 that 
        details the findings of the audit.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Connecting Minority Communities Fund established 
under subsection (b) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, which shall 
remain available until expended.
    (f) Termination.--The Pilot Program, including all reporting 
requirements under this section (except for the report required under 
subsection (g)), shall terminate on the date on which the amounts made 
available to carry out the Pilot Program are fully expended.
    (g) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
Pilot Program terminates under subsection (f), the Assistant Secretary, 
after consulting with the Task Force and eligible recipients that 
received grants under the Pilot Program, shall 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 that--
            (1) describes the manner in which the Pilot Program was 
        carried out;
            (2) identifies each eligible recipient that received a 
        grant under the Pilot Program; and
            (3) contains--
                    (A) information regarding the effectiveness of the 
                Pilot Program;
                    (B) recommendations regarding how the capacity of 
                the Pilot Program could be expanded, including an 
                expansion to include as institutions that are eligible 
                to receive grants under the Pilot Program--
                            (i) Alaska Native-serving institutions and 
                        Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, as those 
                        terms are defined in section 317(b) of the 
                        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1059d(b)); and
                            (ii) Asian American and Native American 
                        Pacific Islander-serving institutions, as that 
                        term is defined in section 320(b) of the Higher 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)); and
                    (C) an estimate of the cost of funding the 
                expansion described in subparagraph (B).
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