Title: Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act of 2021
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act of 2021
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make changes to the financing of the Universal Service Fund. This fund, which is financed by fees contributed by telecommunications carriers, supports programs to expand the availability of and access to telecommunications services.
Specifically, the bill directs the FCC to (1) study the need for expanding the fund's contribution base to ensure fairness and equity in applicable contribution requirements, and (2) reform the fund's contribution system through rulemaking. In carrying out the rulemaking, the FCC must consider the findings and recommendations of its study and the impact of changes on consumers, businesses, and seniors.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3236 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3236

    To require the Federal Communications Commission to reform the 
   contribution system of the Universal Service Fund, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 18, 2021

Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Thune, Mr. Hickenlooper, and Mr. Moran) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To require the Federal Communications Commission to reform the 
   contribution system of the Universal Service Fund, 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 ``Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT.

    Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Federal Communications Commission (referred to in this Act as the 
``Commission'') shall--
            (1) conduct a study assessing the need to expand the 
        contribution base of the Universal Service Fund to ensure that 
        the contribution requirement under section 254(d) of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(d)) is imposed fairly 
        and equitably; and
            (2) submit to Congress a report on the results of the study 
        conducted under paragraph (1).

SEC. 3. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND CONTRIBUTION SYSTEM REFORM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commission shall complete a rulemaking to reform the 
contribution system of the Universal Service Fund, including by 
expanding the contribution base of the Universal Service Fund.
    (b) Considerations.--In conducting the rulemaking required under 
subsection (a), the Commission shall consider--
            (1) the relative equities and burdens of the proposed 
        changes to the contribution system of the Universal Service 
        Fund with respect to consumers and businesses;
            (2) the impact of the proposed changes to the contribution 
        system of the Universal Service Fund on seniors; and
            (3) the findings and recommendations in the report 
        submitted under section 2(2).
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