Rural Broadband Initiative Act

Bill: 114-hr-3152
Sponsor: Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]
Introduced: 2015-07-22 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Public-private cooperation
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-22
text: 

Rural Broadband Initiative Act 

 
This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and an Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives appointed by the President to head the Office. 
 
The Under Secretary is responsible for administering all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service and must: 
 
 
conduct nationwide outreach to rural areas; 
 
foster the development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision; 
 
plan coordination of federal resources for state, regional, and local governments to assist rural areas; 
 
assess all relevant technologies; 
 
serve as a single information source for and coordinate all federal rural broadband programs and services; and 
 
provide technical assistance to state, regional, and local governments. 
 
 
The Under Secretary must also: 
 
 
 submit to the President and Congress a comprehensive rural broadband strategy;
 
submit to Congress a plan to establish a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel; 
 
establish a web-based clearinghouse that describes options, opportunities, resources, successful public-private partnerships, funding sources, and technology tutorials; and
 
revise the rules and qualification criteria for the loan and loan guarantee programs.
 
 
USDA must report to Congress on the resources and staff necessary to carry out this bill, and the Government Accountability Office must review the report. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
action_date: 2015-07-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2015-07-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 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: 2015-07-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 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: 2015-07-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 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: 2015-07-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-22
text: Introduced in House