Title: GREEN Communications Act
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Generating Resilient and Energy Efficient Network Communications Act or the GREEN Communications Act
This bill establishes a program and sets out other requirements for federal agencies concerning the efficiency and resiliency of communications infrastructure.
Specifically, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must competitively award grants and revolving loans to public or private providers, operators, or owners of communications networks or communications infrastructure for efficiency and resiliency projects. The NTIA must also (1) develop best practices concerning energy-efficient and carbon-neutral communications infrastructure, and (2) annually report on the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions of communications infrastructure and certain network outages.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must establish a framework to promote resilient communications networks and communications infrastructure. The FCC must consult with specified federal entities on the framework. The FCC must also
The bill also requires the Department of Energy to report on the projected growth of electrical consumption of, and recommendations for energy efficiency standards for, data centers in the United States.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8178 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8178

 To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
Information to carry out a grant and revolving loan program to provide 
 funding for projects to increase the resiliency and energy efficiency 
          of communications networks, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 22, 2022

  Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Mr. Huffman, Mr. McGovern, Mr. 
   Tonko, and Mr. McEachin) introduced the following bill; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
Information to carry out a grant and revolving loan program to provide 
 funding for projects to increase the resiliency and energy efficiency 
          of communications networks, 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 ``Generating Resilient and Energy 
Efficient Network Communications Act'' or the ``GREEN Communications 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' 
        means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
        and Information.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (3) Communications infrastructure.--The term 
        ``communications infrastructure'' means any equipment, tower, 
        support structure, facility, product, or technology that is 
        essential to the operation of a communications network.
            (4) Communications network.--The term ``communications 
        network'' means--
                    (A) a broadband network;
                    (B) a cellular network;
                    (C) a telephone network;
                    (D) a cable system;
                    (E) a network that is primarily used for public 
                safety or first responder communications; or
                    (F) a network that provides any other 
                communications or telecommunications service.
            (5) Communications network outage.--The term 
        ``communications network outage'' means an outage with respect 
        to a communications network that results in the disruption of 
        services provided by the communications network.
            (6) Covered efficiency project.--The term ``covered 
        efficiency project'' means, with respect to action taken by an 
        eligible entity--
                    (A) the purchase or upgrading of equipment or 
                technology, including an electrical or thermal 
                monitoring system, that is demonstrated to increase the 
                energy efficiency of communications infrastructure;
                    (B) the installation or upgrading of permanent 
                solar panels, wind turbines, combined heat and power 
                technology, or other renewable energy generators that 
                are used in communications infrastructure, or at a data 
                center, provided, operated, or owned by the eligible 
                entity;
                    (C) entering into a partnership with an energy 
                utility company to purchase land for renewable energy 
                infrastructure, or to construct renewable energy 
                infrastructure, that will be used to power a data 
                center, an internet exchange point, or communications 
                infrastructure provided, operated, or owned by the 
                eligible entity;
                    (D) the reduction of water consumption for cooling 
                a data center, or operating other communications 
                infrastructure, provided, operated, or owned by the 
                eligible entity, in an area that is likely to 
                experience drought;
                    (E) the study of ways to make a communications 
                network provided, operated, or owned by the eligible 
                entity, or communications infrastructure provided, 
                operated, or owned by the eligible entity, more energy 
                and resource efficient;
                    (F) the study, including through pilot projects, of 
                green technologies to make a communications network 
                provided, operated, or owned by the eligible entity 
                more energy and resource efficient; or
                    (G) any other type of project carried out by the 
                eligible entity that the Assistant Secretary determines 
                will promote the adoption of energy efficient, 
                renewable energy, and carbon-neutral technologies and 
                practices with respect to communications networks, or 
                communications infrastructure, provided, operated, or 
                owned by the eligible entity.
            (7) Covered resiliency project.--The term ``covered 
        resiliency project'' means, with respect to action taken by an 
        eligible entity--
                    (A) the construction of communications 
                infrastructure to be provided, operated, or owned by 
                the eligible entity in a location that is not 
                vulnerable to projected severe effects with respect to 
                extreme weather, natural disasters, or climate change-
                related events, including sea-level rise, flooding, and 
                increased risk of wildfire;
                    (B) the relocation of communications infrastructure 
                provided, operated, or owned by the eligible entity to 
                a location that is less vulnerable to projected severe 
                effects with respect to extreme weather, natural 
                disasters, or climate change-related events, including 
                sea-level rise, flooding, and increased risk of 
                wildfire;
                    (C) the reinforcement, hardening, or replacement of 
                communications infrastructure provided, operated, or 
                owned by the eligible entity in a location that is 
                increasingly vulnerable to projected severe effects 
                with respect to extreme weather, natural disasters, or 
                climate change-related events, including sea-level 
                rise, flooding, and increased risk of wildfire;
                    (D) the construction of a fortification, such as a 
                sea wall or embankment, or the development of green 
                infrastructure solutions, such as wetlands or drainage 
                ponds, to protect communications infrastructure 
                provided, operated, or owned by the eligible entity 
                from projected severe effects with respect to extreme 
                weather, natural disasters, or climate change-related 
                events, including sea-level rise, flooding, and 
                increased risk of wildfire;
                    (E) the undertaking of research with respect to 
                communications infrastructure provided, operated, or 
                owned by the eligible entity to identify 
                vulnerabilities of that infrastructure to climate 
                change based on the best available data, analysis, and 
                projections regarding that change, including sea-level 
                rise projections, 100-year floodplain maps, and heat 
                and temperature projections;
                    (F) the undertaking of research (using the best 
                available data, analysis and projections regarding 
                tectonic science and structural engineering) with 
                respect to communications infrastructure provided, 
                operated, or owned by the eligible entity to identify 
                vulnerabilities, or the susceptibility, of that 
                communications infrastructure to damage caused by 
                natural disasters;
                    (G) the purchase of renewable energy or low-
                emission backup generators, fuel cells, or batteries to 
                maximize the likelihood that communications 
                infrastructure provided, operated, or owned by the 
                eligible entity can continue operating in the event of 
                an electrical system outage, without regard to whether 
                the eligible entity is required to provide such backup 
                power with respect to that communications 
                infrastructure;
                    (H) the purchase of cooling equipment or 
                insulation, or the development of green infrastructure, 
                to protect communications infrastructure provided, 
                operated, or owned by the eligible entity from extreme 
                heat events;
                    (I) the piloting of technologies to make a 
                communications network provided, operated, or owned by 
                the eligible entity more resilient through energy 
                efficient and low carbon emission measures;
                    (J) in order to facilitate faster detection of, or 
                response to, a communications network outage with 
                respect to a communications network provided, operated, 
                or owned by the eligible entity--
                            (i) the training of employees of the 
                        eligible entity relating to such a detection or 
                        response;
                            (ii) the conducting of communications 
                        network outage tests or simulations;
                            (iii) the participation in communications 
                        network outage tests or simulations, including 
                        those administered by local, State, or Federal 
                        governmental entities; or
                            (iv) the purchase of equipment or 
                        technology relating to such a detection or 
                        response, including communications 
                        infrastructure (including deployable 
                        communications infrastructure) that can 
                        expedite the restoration of communications or 
                        telecommunications services after such a 
                        communications network outage;
                    (K) the undertaking of research to develop 
                technologies that can expedite the restoration of 
                communications or telecommunications services after an 
                outage with respect to communications infrastructure 
                provided, operated, or owned by the eligible entity;
                    (L) the construction, purchase, relocation, 
                reinforcement, or replacement of communications 
                infrastructure provided, operated, or owned by the 
                eligible entity in order to minimize the risk of a 
                communications network outage caused by an affirmative 
                power shut-off by a utility; or
                    (M) any other type of project carried out by the 
                eligible entity that the Assistant Secretary determines 
                will increase the resiliency of a communications 
                network or communications infrastructure provided, 
                operated, or owned by the eligible entity with respect 
                to--
                            (i) severe weather;
                            (ii) natural disasters; and
                            (iii) climate change-related events, 
                        including extreme weather events, droughts, 
                        coastal and inland flooding, sea level rise, 
                        increased storm surge, wildfires, mudslides, 
                        and extreme temperatures.
            (8) Data center.--The term ``data center'' means a 
        centralized location at which computing and networking 
        equipment is concentrated for the purpose of collecting, 
        storing, processing, distributing, or allowing access to large 
        amounts of electronic data.
            (9) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means 
        any private or public entity, including a State, local, or 
        Tribal government, that provides, operates, or owns a 
        communications network or communications infrastructure.
            (10) Natural disaster.--The term ``natural disaster'' 
        includes a natural event that is not related to climate change, 
        including an earthquake, a tornado, a hurricane, a volcanic 
        eruption, a solar flare, a geomagnetic disturbance, and an 
        electromagnetic pulse.
            (11) NTIA.--The term ``NTIA'' means the National 
        Telecommunications and Information Administration.

SEC. 3. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK RESILIENCY AND 
              ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish 
        a program in the NTIA (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Program'') through which the Assistant Secretary, subject to 
        the other provisions of this section, shall competitively award 
        grants and revolving loans to eligible entities to carry out 
        covered efficiency projects and covered resiliency projects.
            (2) Preliminary rulemaking.--Before accepting applications 
        for a grant or a revolving loan under the Program, the 
        Assistant Secretary shall, under section 553 of title 5, United 
        States Code, and after consultation with eligible entities and 
        the Secretary of Homeland Security, conduct a rulemaking to 
        develop a process for--
                    (A) identifying proprietary and confidential 
                information contained in such an application; and
                    (B) handling and protecting information described 
                in subparagraph (A).
    (b) Application Process.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible 
        entity seeking a grant or a revolving loan under the Program 
        shall submit to the Assistant Secretary an application at such 
        time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
        Assistant Secretary may require.
            (2) Minimum requirements.--An application submitted by an 
        eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain, at a 
        minimum, and to the extent applicable--
                    (A) with respect to a covered efficiency project--
                            (i) an overview of the energy sourcing of 
                        the communications infrastructure or other 
                        equipment that is the subject of the project; 
                        and
                            (ii) a description of how the grant or 
                        revolving loan sought by the eligible entity 
                        will improve the energy or resource efficiency 
                        of the communications infrastructure or other 
                        equipment that is the subject of the project; 
                        and
                    (B) with respect to a covered resiliency project--
                            (i) a description of the current, as of the 
                        date on which the application is submitted, 
                        resiliency efforts of the eligible entity with 
                        respect to the communications infrastructure or 
                        communications network that is the subject of 
                        the project;
                            (ii) a description of the specific 
                        vulnerability of, or threat of disruption to, 
                        the communications infrastructure or 
                        communications network that is the subject of 
                        the project;
                            (iii) a description of how the grant or 
                        revolving loan sought by the eligible entity 
                        will improve the resiliency of the 
                        communications infrastructure or communications 
                        network that is the subject of the project;
                            (iv) a statement that the project meets all 
                        applicable local, State, Tribal, and Federal 
                        zoning and environmental requirements; and
                            (v) a description of how the project will 
                        integrate with local or regional strategic 
                        planning efforts, if applicable.
    (c) Funding Prioritization.--In selecting projects for which 
funding will be provided under the Program, the Assistant Secretary 
shall give priority to--
            (1) covered efficiency projects that--
                    (A) will be carried out in, or primarily benefit, 
                areas in which--
                            (i) the median household income is below 
                        150 percent of the Federal poverty level; or
                            (ii) a majority of the residents are 
                        members of a racial or ethnic minority group;
                    (B) have the greatest demonstrated impact on energy 
                efficiency; or
                    (C) demonstrate the greatest overall projected 
                reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; and
            (2) covered resiliency projects that--
                    (A) will be carried out in, or primarily benefit, 
                areas--
                            (i) in which the median household income is 
                        below 150 percent of the Federal poverty level;
                            (ii) in which a majority of the residents 
                        are members of a racial or ethnic minority 
                        group;
                            (iii) in which rural features or sparse 
                        populations limit other investments with 
                        respect to the resiliency of communications 
                        networks; or
                            (iv) that are highly vulnerable to events 
                        relating to severe weather, natural disasters, 
                        or climate change-related events, as determined 
                        by the Assistant Secretary after--
                                    (I) consulting with the 
                                Administrators of the Federal Emergency 
                                Management Agency, the National Oceanic 
                                and Atmospheric Administration, and the 
                                Environmental Protection Agency, using 
                                the best data available to those 
                                officials; and
                                    (II) obtaining input from operators 
                                of communications networks regarding 
                                the types of events that are most or 
                                least impactful to those communications 
                                networks; or
                    (B) utilize green infrastructure or renewable 
                energy solutions, including by piloting new green 
                solutions that will affirmatively increase the 
                resiliency of communications infrastructure or 
                communications networks provided, operated, or owned by 
                the eligible entity.
    (d) Conditions on Financial Assistance.--
            (1) Covered efficiency project.--An eligible entity to 
        which funding is made available under the Program with respect 
        to a covered efficiency project shall, to the extent 
        applicable--
                    (A) not later than 1 year after the date on which 
                the eligible entity receives the funding, and annually 
                thereafter until the completion of the covered 
                efficiency project, submit to the Assistant Secretary a 
                report that describes, for the year covered by the 
                report, the electrical consumption, by source, of the 
                communications infrastructure or other property that is 
                the subject of the project, which shall identify the 
                percentage of that consumption that comes from fossil 
                fuels and from renewable energy sources; and
                    (B) complete a clean energy review--
                            (i) the components of which shall be 
                        established by the Secretary of Energy, in 
                        consultation with the Administrator of the 
                        Environmental Protection Agency--
                                    (I) through rulemaking under 
                                section 553 of title 5, United States 
                                Code; and
                                    (II) after developing a process, in 
                                consultation with eligible entities, 
                                for--
                                            (aa) identifying 
                                        proprietary and confidential 
                                        information contained in such a 
                                        review; and
                                            (bb) handling and 
                                        protecting information 
                                        described in item (aa); and
                            (ii) which shall include--
                                    (I) the energy consumption patterns 
                                of the eligible entity; and
                                    (II) the steps taken by the 
                                eligible entity, or the steps that the 
                                eligible entity will take, to achieve a 
                                goal of net-zero carbon emissions with 
                                respect to the communications 
                                infrastructure, and communications 
                                networks, provided, operated, or owned 
                                by the eligible entity.
            (2) Covered resiliency project.--An eligible entity to 
        which funding is made available under the Program with respect 
        to a covered resiliency project shall, to the extent 
        applicable--
                    (A) beginning not later than 60 days after the date 
                on which the eligible entity receives the funding, 
                register and participate in the Disaster Information 
                Reporting System operated by the Commission, including 
                by subsequently reporting, during times of emergency, 
                the operational status of communications infrastructure 
                operated by the eligible entity;
                    (B) not later than 1 year after the date on which 
                the eligible entity receives the funding, and annually 
                thereafter until the completion of the covered 
                resiliency project, submit to the Commission a report 
                that, to the extent applicable, contains, with respect 
                to communications infrastructure provided, operated, or 
                owned by the eligible entity--
                            (i) the number, duration, and frequency of 
                        communications network outages experienced as a 
                        result of an outage with respect to, or other 
                        failure of, that infrastructure within a 
                        certain time period, as determined by the 
                        Commission;
                            (ii) the specific cause of each 
                        communications network outage described in 
                        clause (i);
                            (iii) the number of consumers affected by 
                        each communications network outage described in 
                        clause (i);
                            (iv) the extent to which first responders 
                        were affected by each communications network 
                        outage described in clause (i);
                            (v) the total number of communications 
                        network outages annually experienced with 
                        respect to that infrastructure that are 
                        attributable to severe weather, natural 
                        disasters, and climate change-related events 
                        and the number of consumers affected by those 
                        outages;
                            (vi) the extent of any reduction of 
                        communications network performance caused by a 
                        communications network outage with respect to 
                        that infrastructure;
                            (vii) the amount of time between the start 
                        of each communications network outage with 
                        respect to that infrastructure and detection of 
                        the outage;
                            (viii) the amount of time between the 
                        detection of each communications network outage 
                        with respect to that infrastructure and the 
                        initiation of any response to mitigate the 
                        effects of the outage;
                            (ix) the amount of time required to fully 
                        restore services after a communications network 
                        outage with respect to that infrastructure; and
                            (x) any other information that the 
                        Commission determines is necessary to achieve 
                        the objectives described in section 4(a)(2); 
                        and
                    (C) complete a communications resiliency review--
                            (i) the components of which shall be 
                        established by the Commission, in consultation 
                        with the Assistant Secretary--
                                    (I) through rulemaking under 
                                section 553 of title 5, United States 
                                Code; and
                                    (II) after developing a process, in 
                                consultation with eligible entities, 
                                for--
                                            (aa) identifying 
                                        proprietary and confidential 
                                        information contained in such a 
                                        review; and
                                            (bb) handling and 
                                        protecting information 
                                        described in item (aa); and
                            (ii) which shall include, to the extent 
                        applicable--
                                    (I) the analysis of the eligible 
                                entity with respect to the 
                                vulnerabilities of communications 
                                infrastructure provided, operated, or 
                                owned by the eligible entity with 
                                respect to severe weather, natural 
                                disasters, and climate change-related 
                                events;
                                    (II) a description of steps taken 
                                by the eligible entity, or steps that 
                                the eligible entity will take, to 
                                address the vulnerabilities described 
                                in subclause (I); and
                                    (III) the number of projected 
                                potential users of the communications 
                                network or communications 
                                infrastructure provided, operated, or 
                                owned by the eligible entity that may 
                                be affected by the vulnerabilities 
                                described in subclause (I).
    (e) Consultation With Relevant Agencies.--In establishing and 
carrying out the Program, the Assistant Secretary may consult and 
coordinate, as needed, with the Commission, the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, and the head of any other Federal agency with 
relevant subject matter expertise.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations; Minimum Expenditures.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Assistant Secretary $5,000,000,000 to carry out the 
        Program, which shall remain available until expended.
            (2) Minimum expenditures; administrative costs.--Of the 
        amounts made available to carry out the Program, the Assistant 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) use not less than 25 percent to provide 
                assistance to eligible entities to carry out covered 
                efficiency projects;
                    (B) use not less than 25 percent to provide 
                assistance to eligible entities to carry out covered 
                resiliency projects; and
                    (C) set aside not more than 2 percent to cover 
                costs relating to administration, research, training, 
                and staff, including--
                            (i) the detailing of employees from other 
                        Federal agencies; and
                            (ii) the appointment of experts in the 
                        fields of infrastructure resiliency, climate 
                        science, clean energy, and energy efficiency.

SEC. 4. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.

    (a) Communications Network Resiliency Framework.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Commission, in consultation with 
        the Assistant Secretary, the Administrator of the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency, and the Director of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology, shall issue rules under 
        section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to establish a 
        communications network resiliency framework to promote 
        resiliency with respect to communications networks and 
        communications infrastructure.
            (2) Objectives.--The objectives of the framework 
        established under paragraph (1) shall be the following:
                    (A) To minimize the number of communications 
                network outages.
                    (B) To minimize the length of communications 
                network outages.
                    (C) To minimize the number of consumers affected by 
                communications network outages.
                    (D) To mitigate the reduction in communications 
                network performance caused by communications network 
                outages.
                    (E) To encourage the adoption of equipment, 
                policies, and procedures to prepare for communications 
                network outages.
                    (F) To promote the detection of, and response to, 
                communications network outages in a timely manner.
                    (G) To anticipate and prepare for long-term 
                disruptions to communications networks that are caused 
                by severe weather, natural disasters, or climate 
                change.
                    (H) To support and address the communications needs 
                of first responders involved in detecting, managing, 
                and responding to--
                            (i) severe weather events, natural 
                        disasters, and climate change-related events; 
                        and
                            (ii) communications network outages caused 
                        by the events described in clause (i).
            (3) Commission discretion.--In carrying out this 
        subsection, the Commission may, after providing public notice 
        and an opportunity to comment, establish minimum performance 
        criteria or target goals with respect to the resiliency of 
        communications networks and communications infrastructure.
    (b) Agency Responsibilities.--
            (1) FCC responsibilities.--
                    (A) Resiliency mapping feasibility report.--
                            (i) In general.--The Commission shall--
                                    (I) in consultation with the 
                                Assistant Secretary and the 
                                Administrators of the National Oceanic 
                                and Atmospheric Administration, the 
                                Environmental Protection Agency, and 
                                the Federal Emergency Management 
                                Agency, complete a study (and submit to 
                                Congress a report regarding) the 
                                feasibility of establishing and 
                                maintaining a map that shows projected 
                                risks to communications infrastructure 
                                as a result of events relating to 
                                severe weather, natural disasters, and 
                                climate change; and
                                    (II) include in the report required 
                                under subclause (I) recommendations 
                                regarding--
                                            (aa) which Federal agency, 
                                        or combination of Federal 
                                        agencies, is best equipped to 
                                        conduct the mapping described 
                                        in that subclause;
                                            (bb) how the mapping 
                                        described in that subclause 
                                        could--

                                                    (AA) incorporate 
                                                the information 
                                                obtained from eligible 
                                                entities under the 
                                                program carried out 
                                                under section 3; and

                                                    (BB) be coordinated 
                                                with, and connected to, 
                                                other broadband mapping 
                                                efforts of the 
                                                Commission; and

                                            (cc) how to protect and 
                                        secure any sensitive 
                                        information relating to, or 
                                        stemming from, the mapping 
                                        described in that subclause.
                            (ii) Authorization of appropriations.--
                        There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
                        Commission such sums as may be necessary to 
                        carry out clause (i).
                    (B) Technical assistance.--
                            (i) In general.--The Commission, in 
                        consultation with the Assistant Secretary, 
                        shall provide technical assistance and 
                        resources to--
                                    (I) any public or private domestic 
                                entity seeking to understand, with 
                                respect to a communications network (or 
                                communications infrastructure) 
                                provided, operated, or owned by that 
                                entity, the vulnerability or 
                                susceptibility of the network or 
                                infrastructure with respect to severe 
                                weather, natural disasters, or climate 
                                change; and
                                    (II) any State or local government 
                                seeking to understand the vulnerability 
                                or susceptibility with respect to 
                                severe weather, natural disasters, or 
                                climate change of a communications 
                                network that--
                                            (aa) is located within the 
                                        jurisdiction of that 
                                        government; and
                                            (bb) is not operated by 
                                        that government.
                            (ii) Scope of assistance.--In providing the 
                        technical assistance under clause (i), the 
                        Commission shall only provide technical 
                        assistance and resources related to mitigating 
                        vulnerabilities in a communications network (or 
                        communications infrastructure) and is not 
                        required to provide technical assistance or 
                        resources on separate matters related to 
                        climate change.
                    (C) NORS.--After providing public notice and an 
                opportunity to comment, the Commission shall update the 
                Network Outage Reporting System to include a broadband 
                network outage as a required reporting incident.
            (2) NTIA responsibilities.--
                    (A) Energy and efficiency best practices.--
                            (i) In general.--The Assistant Secretary, 
                        in consultation with other Federal agencies 
                        (including the Commission, the Department of 
                        Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
                        and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), 
                        and after obtaining input from communications 
                        service providers and other interested members 
                        of the public, shall make available on a 
                        publicly available website a list of best 
                        practices for public and private partners to 
                        operate energy efficient and carbon-neutral 
                        communications infrastructure.
                            (ii) Contents.--The list of best practices 
                        described in clause (i) may include--
                                    (I) suggested technical standards 
                                for improving energy efficiency with 
                                respect to the use and transmission of 
                                electronic data, including the 
                                implementation of more efficient 
                                compression and transmission algorithms 
                                and signal types;
                                    (II) renewable energy sourcing 
                                guidelines; and
                                    (III) guidelines for internet 
                                service providers to report to 
                                consumers the energy consumption of 
                                those consumers alongside the data use 
                                of those consumers.
                    (B) Reporting.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
                the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the 
                Commission, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency, and the Administrator of the 
                Environmental Protection Agency, and after providing 
                public notice and an opportunity to comment, shall 
                submit to Congress, and make available on a publicly 
                available website, a report that, at a minimum--
                            (i) contains data demonstrating, for the 
                        year covered by the report and the year 
                        preceding the year covered by the report--
                                    (I) the number of communications 
                                network outages that are attributable 
                                to severe weather, natural disasters, 
                                and climate change-related events (and 
                                the number of consumers affected by 
                                those communications network outages);
                                    (II) any shifts in the energy 
                                consumption patterns of communications 
                                networks and communications 
                                infrastructure; and
                                    (III) any reduction in greenhouse 
                                gas emissions from communications 
                                networks and communications 
                                infrastructure; and
                            (ii) provides the most up-to-date projected 
                        risks to communications infrastructure because 
                        of severe weather, natural disasters, and 
                        climate change-related events.
            (3) Department of energy.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in 
        consultation with the Administrator of the Energy Information 
        Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental 
        Protection Agency, and the Federal Energy Regulatory 
        Commission, shall submit to Congress a report that--
                    (A) indicates the projected growth of electrical 
                consumption by data centers in the United States; and
                    (B) includes recommendations for implementing 
                energy efficiency standards for data centers that 
                would--
                            (i) limit the growth described in 
                        subparagraph (A) to the greatest extent 
                        practicable without--
                                    (I) reducing the rate of broadband 
                                adoption and usage in the United 
                                States; or
                                    (II) limiting the development of 
                                new and improved technologies or 
                                services; and
                            (ii) encourage the rapid adoption of 
                        renewable energy sources.
                                 <all>