Connected Rural Schools Act

Bill: 117-s-696
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-03-10
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Education programs funding

Educational technology and distance education

Elementary and secondary education

Forests, forestry, trees

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Rural conditions and development

State and local finance
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-10
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Connected Rural Schools Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes counties to use funds from the Secure Rural Schools Program to provide or expand access to (1) broadband services at local schools, or (2) technology and connectivity necessary for students to use digital learning tools outside of a local school campus.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 696 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 10, 2021 Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself, Mr. Romney , Mr. Manchin , and Mr. Boozman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to allow counties to use certain funds to provide or expand access to broadband telecommunications services and other technologies.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Connected Rural Schools Act . 2. Access to broadband and other technology Section 302(a) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 7142(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (5) to provide or expand access to— (A) broadband telecommunications services at local schools; or (B) the technology and connectivity necessary for students to use a digital learning tool at or outside of a local school campus. .