Connect Unserved Americans Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3587
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2022-02-07
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2022-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S547)

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-02-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Connect Unserved Americans Act of 2022</strong></p> <p>This bill modifies administration of and requirements for broadband deployment programs.</p> <p>Specifically, it requires the Department of the Treasury to participate in interagency activities to coordinate federally supported broadband deployment.</p> <p>The bill also increases the percentage (from 50% to 80%) of rural households that a project must serve in order to receive a grant or a loan to expand access to broadband for distance learning and telemedicine in rural areas.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3587 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 7 (legislative day, February 3), 2022 Mr. Thune (for himself, Ms. Smith , Mr. Wicker , and Mr. Casey ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To modify conditions of funding for the distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program of the Rural Utilities Service, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Connect Unserved Americans Act of 2022 . 2. Distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( Public Law 117–58 ) is amended in the third proviso under the heading distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program under the heading Rural Utilities Service under the heading rural development programs under the heading Department of Agriculture in title I of division J by striking 50 percent and inserting 80 percent . 3. Coordination with Treasury Department on distribution of broadband deployment funds (a) In general Section 904(b) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( 47 U.S.C. 1308(b) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(A)— (A) in clause (ii), by striking and at the end; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (iv) the Department of the Treasury; and ; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (D) the programs administered by the Department of the Treasury. . (b) Deadline Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the covered agencies (as defined in section 904(b) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( 47 U.S.C. 1308(b) ), as amended by subsection (a) of this section) shall implement the amendments made by subsection (a) of this section.