Rural Access to Broadband Service Act

Bill: 109-hr-1479
Sponsor: Rep. Udall, Mark [D-CO-2]
Introduced: 2005-04-05 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Antennas
Broadband
Cable television
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cooperative societies
Department of Commerce
Department of the Treasury
Direct broadcast satellites
Directories
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government paperwork
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Internet
Law
Research
Research grants
Strategic planning
Tax deductions
Tax-exempt organizations
Taxation
Telecommunication industry
Telephone
Television relay systems
Unrelated business income tax
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-05
text: 
Rural Access to Broadband Service Act - Establishes within the Department of Commerce the Rural Broadband Office which shall coordinate all Federal Government resources as they relate to the expansion of broadband technology into rural areas.
 
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out research on the following: (1) means of enhancing or facilitating the availability of broadband telecommunications services in rural areas and other remote areas; and (2) means of facilitating or enhancing access to the Internet through broadband telecommunications services.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the rural electrification loan program under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, which is essential to the economic well-being of small telecommunications providers and to the quality of life for all rural residents, be funded fully.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit any qualified broadband expenditure which is paid or incurred by the taxpayer to be treated as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account; and (2) any expenditure so treated to be allowed as a deduction. Defines terms and sets forth rules.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research.
action_date: 2005-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards.
action_date: 2005-04-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
action_date: 2005-04-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E585)
action_date: 2005-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Science, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Science, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Science, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-04-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Science, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-04-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-04-05
text: Introduced in House