A bill to require the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to provide assistance relating to broadband access, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-2668
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-08-05
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Indian social and development programs

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Rural conditions and development

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-08-05
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill establishes a fund within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to assist states and tribal governments in supporting entities that oversee broadband programs and broadband deployment.</p> <p>Priority must be given to states that either do not have such an entity or that need to increase the capacity of such an entity. The administration's Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth must provide technical and other assistance (1) to support the expansion of broadband, and (2) regarding cybersecurity resources and programs available through federal agencies. </p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2668 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 5, 2021 Mr. Tester (for Ms. Rosen ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to provide assistance relating to broadband access, and for other purposes.

1. Assistance for State and Tribal broadband access programs Subsection (c) of the ACCESS BROADBAND Act (section 903 of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 )) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3) Fund (A) In general There is established a fund within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which shall be managed by the Office, to provide assistance to States and Tribal governments to support offices, agencies, or other entities that oversee broadband programs and broadband deployment in the State, with priority given to States that— (i) do not have such an active office, agency, or entity; or (ii) need to increase the capacity of such an office, agency, or entity. (B) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to the fund established under subparagraph (A). (4) Technical and other assistance (A) In general The Office shall provide technical and other assistance to States and Tribal governments— (i) to support the expansion of broadband, with priority for expansion in rural and Tribal areas and States that consistent rate at the bottom of broadband access and deployment; and (ii) regarding cybersecurity resources and programs available through Federal agencies, including the Election Assistance Commission, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Trade Commission, and the National Science Foundation. (B) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this paragraph. .