Clarifying E–Rate Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-8556
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-30]
Introduced: 2024-05-23
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-05-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Clarifying E–Rate Act of 2024</strong></p><p>This bill provides statutory authority for the use of Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support program (E-Rate) funds for the provision of Wi-Fi access on school buses. (In a declaratory ruling titled <em>Modernizing the E-Rate Program for Schools and Libraries</em> and released on October 25, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declared that the use of Wi-Fi and similar technologies on school buses serves an educational purpose and is therefore eligible for E-Rate funding. The policy effectively permits schools to receive discounted telecommunications service for use on school buses.)</p><p>The bill also directs the FCC to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking specifying any additional locations for which E-Rate funding may be used to support connectivity. The FCC must establish an annual process for considering additional eligible locations.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8556 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2024 Mr. Schiff (for himself, Ms. Norton , Mrs. Napolitano , Ms. Sánchez , Mr. Robert Garcia of California , Mr. McGovern , and Ms. Stansbury ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure that certain telecommunications assistance available to assist school buses is preserved consistent with the Declaratory Ruling in the matter of Modernizing the E-Rate Program for Schools and Libraries adopted by the Federal Communications Commission on October 19, 2023 (FCC 23–84; WC Docket No. 13–184), and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clarifying E–Rate Act of 2024 . 2. Telecommunications services for certain providers (a) School buses and other locations where learning occurs Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(6), by striking and classrooms and inserting (including classrooms associated with such schools, buses associated with such schools (if owned, leased, or contracted by a school and used primarily to transport students to and from such school or activities related to such school), and other locations where learning occurs as determined appropriate by the Commission) ; (2) in subsection (h)(1)(B), by inserting (including, with respect to schools, to classrooms associated with such schools, buses associated with such schools (if owned, leased, or contracted by a school and used primarily to transport students to and from such school or activities related to such school), and other locations where learning occurs as determined appropriate by the Commission) after educational purposes ; and (3) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by striking school classrooms and inserting schools (including classrooms associated with such schools, buses associated with such schools (if owned, leased, or contracted by a school and used primarily to transport students to and from such school or activities related to such school), and other locations where learning occurs as determined appropriate by the Commission) . (b) Applicability The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to amounts made available for funding year 2025 and each funding year thereafter. (c) Rule of construction The amendments made by subsection (a) may not be construed to affect the authority of the Federal Communications Commission with respect to the Declaratory Ruling in the matter of Modernizing the E–Rate Program for Schools and Libraries adopted by the Commission on October 19, 2023 (FCC 23–84; WC Docket No. 13–184). (d) Determinations Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall promulgate a notice of proposed rulemaking to— (1) specify, if any, additional locations where learning occurs that the Commission determines appropriate for purposes of subsections (b)(6), (h)(1)(B), and (h)(2)(A) of section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254 ), as amended by this Act; and (2) establish an annual assessment process for determining if further modifications are necessary with respect to such additional locations.