Rural America Digital Accessibility Act

Bill: 109-hr-144
Sponsor: Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2005-01-04 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Broadband
Cable television
Commerce
Commercialization
Communication satellites
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal aid to research
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government securities
High technology
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Industrial parks
Industry-university relations
Interest
Internet
Investments
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Public-private partnerships
Research grants
Rural economic development
Small business
Subsidies
Tax credits
Tax returns
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Telecommunication policy
Telephone
Television relay systems
Urban affairs
Urban areas
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2005-01-04
text: Rural America Digital Accessibility Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants or guarantee loans in order to facilitate the deployment by the private sector of broadband telecommunications networks and capabilities (including wireless and satellite services) to underserved rural areas. Limits to $100 million the total amount of such grants and loan guarantees.
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to research the enhancement or facilitation of broadband telecommunications services in rural and other remote areas, as well as Internet access through such services. 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit to holders of qualified technology bonds (bonds representing an investment in projects to expand such telecommunications services). Sets a national technology bond limitation of $100 million for each of FY 2005 through 2009, and zero thereafter (with an exception) to be allocated by the Secretary among the qualified projects designated each year. 
Directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance for the establishment and support of regional centers for the commercial use of advanced technologies by small and medium-sized businesses.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
action_date: 2005-01-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2005-01-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2005-01-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2005-01-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-01-04
text: Introduced in House