MAP Broadband Act

Bill: 115-s-2955
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2018-05-24
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Government information and archives

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Rural conditions and development

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-05-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Mobile Accuracy and Precision Broadband Act of 2018 or the MAP Broadband Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend the period of the process under which a person may challenge the initial determination that an area is ineligible for Mobility Fund Phase II support (i.e., the challenge process) until November 27, 2018. The Mobility Fund is a program within the FCC's Universal Service Fund that provides monetary support for the deployment of mobile broadband service. Phase II of the fund provides monetary support over a 10-year period for mobile voice and broadband coverage in mostly rural areas.</p> <p>The FCC must: (1) publicly disclose handsets (i.e., phones) approved for use in the challenge process to assist consumers in exploring potential challenges, (2) publish online monthly updates on the number of entities that it has approved to participate in the challenge process and the percentage of the total area initially determined to be ineligible for Mobility Fund Phase II support that has been challenged, and (3) publish annual updates on whether the deployment of mobile wireless service is being expanded in rural areas due to Mobility Fund Phase II support.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2955 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 24, 2018 Mr. Wicker (for himself, Ms. Hassan , and Mr. Moran ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To reform the Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process conducted by the Federal Communications Commission.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mobile Accuracy and Precision Broadband Act of 2018 or the MAP Broadband Act . 2. Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term challenge process means the process established by the Commission under which a person may challenge the initial determination that an area is ineligible for Mobility Fund Phase II support; (2) the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission; (3) the term Mobility Fund Phase II means the second phase of the proceeding to provide universal service support from the Mobility Fund (WC Docket No. 10–90; WT Docket No. 10–208); and (4) the term Mobility Fund Phase II support means universal service support provided under Mobility Fund Phase II. (b) Challenge process window The Commission shall extend the period of the challenge process until November 27, 2018. (c) Public disclosure of approved handsets The Commission shall publicly disclose each handset that each mobile wireless service provider has approved for challengers to use in the challenge process, in order to assist consumers in exploring potential challenges. (d) Challenge process updates During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the last day of the challenge process, the Commission shall publish online monthly updates on— (1) the number of entities that the Commission has approved to participate in the challenge process as challengers; and (2) the percentage of the total geographic area initially determined to be ineligible for Mobility Fund Phase II support that has been challenged under the challenge process. (e) Post-Auction reporting After the Commission conducts the Mobility Fund Phase II reverse auction, the Commission shall publish online annual updates on whether the deployment of mobile wireless service is being expanded in rural areas due to Mobility Fund Phase II support.