Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-5537
Sponsor: Rep. Royce, Edward R. [R-CA-39]
Introduced: 2016-06-21 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Economic development
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Peace Corps
Public-private cooperation
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-21
text: 

Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2016 or the Digital GAP Act

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
the title of the Department of State's Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment should be changed to Under Secretary for Economics, Energy, the Environment, and Cyberspace; 
 
the State Department should designate an Assistant Secretary for Technology, International Communications, and Cyberspace to lead diplomatic cyberspace policy for Internet access, governance, and freedom, telecommunications networks and communications technology, and cybersecurity; and 
 
 the U.S. Agency for International Development should integrate efforts to expand Internet access, develop appropriate technologies, and enhance digital literacy into its education, development, and economic growth programs, and promote protection of the personal information of people served by humanitarian, disaster, and development programs. 
 
 
The Peace Corps Act is amended to express the sense of Congress that the Peace Corps should develop volunteer positions focused on leveraging technology for development, education, and social and economic mobility.
 
The President is urged to direct U.S. representatives to international bodies to advocate for: (1) increasing efforts to promote gender-equitable Internet access, (2) standardizing inclusion of broadband conduit-fiber optic cables, and (3) providing technical assistance to remove investment barriers and strengthen market growth.
 
The President shall transmit plans to Congress to promote U.S. and U.S.-funded agency partnerships with the private and public sectors to provide Internet access or infrastructure in developing countries. 
 
The President is urged to include in the next White House Cyberspace Strategy information relating to: (1) Internet access, (2) cybersecurity policy, and (3) principles of global Internet freedom.

action_date: 2016-09-07
text: 

Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2016 or the Digital GAP Act 
 
 
(Sec. 4) This bill declares that it is U.S. policy to coordinate with foreign governments, international organizations, regional economic communities, businesses, and civil society to promote in developing countries: 
 
 
first-time, affordable Internet access; 
 
Internet deployment and capacity building;
 
removal of tax and regulatory barriers to Internet access; 
 
Internet use to increase economic growth and tradeand to bolster democracy, government accountability, transparency, and human rights; 
 
Internet access, and inclusion into Internet policy making, for women, people with disabilities, minorities, low-income and marginalized groups, and underserved populations; and 
 
cybersecurity and data protection.
 
 
(Sec. 5) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the State Department should: (1) redesignate an existing Assistant Secretary position to be the Assistant Secretary for Cyberspace to lead its diplomatic cyberspace policy, and (2) promote the recruitment of candidates with technical expertise into the Civil Service and the Foreign Service. 
 
The redesignation of the Assistant Secretary position may not be construed as increasing the number of State Department Assistant Secretary positions above the current level of 24. 
 
(Sec. 6) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. Agency for International Development should: (1) integrate efforts to expand Internet access, develop appropriate technologies, and enhance digital literacy into its education, development, and economic growth programs; (2) expand the utilization of information and communications technologies in humanitarian aid and disaster relief responses; and (3) establish and promote guidelines for the protection of personal information of individuals served by humanitarian, disaster, and development programs. 
 
(Sec. 7) The Peace Corps Act is amended to express the sense of Congress that technology access can transform agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth development, which are the sectors in which Peace Corps currently develops volunteer positions. 
 
(Sec. 8) The President is urged to use U.S. influence at international bodies to advocate for: 
 
 
 increased efforts to promote affordable and gender-equitable Internet access, 
 
 integrating gender-equitable affordable Internet access into existing economic and business assessments and indexes, 
 
standardized inclusion of broadband conduit--fiber optic cables that support broadband or wireless facilities for broadband service,
 
providing technical assistance to regulatory authorities in developing countries to remove unnecessary barriers to investment and strengthen market growth and development, and 
 
 protection of human rights online. 
 
 
(Sec. 9) The President shall transmit to Congress within 180 days plans to promote U.S. and U.S.-funded agency partnerships with the private and public sectors to provide Internet access or infrastructure in developing countries. 
 
(Sec. 10) The President shall report to Congress within 180 days on efforts to implement the Internet access policy under this bill.
 
(Sec. 11) The President is urged to include in the next White House Cyberspace Strategy information about methods to promote: (1) Internet access in developing countries, (2) cybersecurity policy consistent with the National Institute of Standards and Technology Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, and (3) global Internet freedom principles. 
 
(Sec. 12) The bill defines &quot;cyberspace&quot; as the interdependent network of information technology infrastructures, including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems, embedded processors and controllers in critical industries, and the virtual environment of information and interactions between people. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5146-5147)
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5146-5147)
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5537.
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5146-5149)
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-06-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2016-06-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-06-21
text: Introduced in House