instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Oceans Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the 
        Commission on Ocean Policy established under section 4.
            (2) Coastal state.--The term ``coastal State'' means a 
        State in, or bordering on, the Atlantic, Pacific, or Arctic 
        Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound, or one or more of 
        the Great Lakes.
            (3) Marine environment.--The term ``marine environment'' 
        includes--
                    (A) the oceans, including coastal and offshore 
                waters and nearshore saltwater estuaries;
                    (B) the continental shelf; and
                    (C) the Great Lakes.
            (4) Ocean and coastal activities.--The term ``ocean and 
        coastal activities'' includes activities consisting of, 
        affecting, or otherwise related to oceanography, fisheries, or 
        the management or use of any ocean and coastal resource. The 
        term does not include military operations and training.
            (5) Ocean and coastal resource.--The term ``ocean and 
        coastal resource'' means any living or nonliving natural, 
        historic, or cultural resource or mineral found in the marine 
        environment.
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means any State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
        Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other 
        territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 3. EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES.

    (a) National Ocean and Coastal Policy.--The Congress and the 
President, after receiving and considering the report of the Commission 
under section 4, shall develop and propose a coordinated, 
comprehensive, and long-range national policy for the responsible use 
and stewardship of ocean and coastal resources for the benefit of the 
United States, including a plan to meet the resource monitoring and 
assessment facilities and equipment requirements of Federal ocean and 
coastal programs.
    (b) Biennial Report.--Beginning in January 1999, the President 
shall transmit to the Congress biennially a report that shall include a 
detailed listing of all existing Federal programs relating to ocean and 
coastal activities, including a description of each program, the 
current funding for the program, and a projection of the funding level 
for the program for each of the following 5 fiscal years.
    (c) Budget Coordination.--Each agency or department involved in 
ocean and coastal activities shall include with its annual request for 
appropriations a report that identifies significant elements of the 
proposed agency or department budget relating to ocean and coastal 
activities.
    (d) Cooperation and Consultation.--In carrying out responsibilities 
under this Act, the President--
            (1) may use such staff, interagency, and advisory 
        arrangements as the President finds necessary and appropriate; 
        and
            (2) shall consult with State and local governments and non-
        Federal organizations and individuals involved in ocean and 
        coastal activities.

SEC. 4. COMMISSION ON OCEAN POLICY.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--There is hereby established the Commission 
        on Ocean Policy.
            (2) Membership.--(A) The Commission shall be composed of 16 
        members appointed by the President from among individuals who 
        are knowledgeable in ocean and coastal activities, including 
        individuals representing State and local governments, ocean-
        related industries, academic and technical institutions, and 
        public interest organizations involved with scientific, 
        regulatory, economic, and environmental ocean and coastal 
        activities. The membership of the Commission shall be balanced 
        geographically to the extent consistent with maintaining the 
        highest level of expertise on the Commission.
            (B) Of the members of the Commission appointed under this 
        paragraph--
                    (i) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 
                individuals who shall be recommended by the majority 
                leader of the Senate in consultation with the Chairman 
                of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation;
                    (ii) 4 shall be appointed from a list of 8 
                individuals who shall be recommended by the Speaker of 
                the House of Representatives in consultation with the 
                Chairmen of the Committee on Resources, Transportation 
                and Infrastructure, and Science;
                    (iii) 2 shall be appointed from a list of 4 
                individuals who shall be recommended by the minority 
                leader of the Senate in consultation with the ranking 
                member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                and Transportation; and
                    (iv) 2 shall be appointed from a list of 4 
                individuals who shall be recommended by the by the 
                minority leader of the House of Representatives in 
                consultation with the ranking members of the Committees 
                on Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
                Science.
            (C) The members of the Commission shall be appointed for 
        the life of the Commission by not later than 90 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
            (3) First meeting.--The Commission shall hold its first 
        meeting within 30 days after it is established.
            (4) Chairman.--The Commission shall elect one of its 
        members as Chair.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall submit to the 
        Congress and the President, by not later than 18 months after 
        the date of the establishment of the Commission, a final report 
        of its findings and recommendations regarding United States 
        ocean policy.
            (2) Public and state review.--Before submitting the final 
        report to the Congress, the Commission shall--
                    (A) publish in the Federal Register a notice that 
                the draft report is available for public review; and
                    (B) provide a copy of the draft report to the 
                Governor of each coastal State, the Committees on 
                Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
                Science of the House of Representatives, and the 
                Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
                the Senate.
            (3) Final report contents, generally.--Subject to paragraph 
        (4), the final report of the Commission shall include 
        recommendations for the responsible use and stewardship of 
        ocean and coastal resources, including the following:
                    (A) Recommendations for any modifications to United 
                States laws and regulations, and the administrative 
                structure of the Executive agencies, that are necessary 
                to improve the understanding, management, and 
                conservation and use of, and access to, ocean and 
                coastal resources.
                    (B) An assessment of the condition and adequacy of 
                existing and planned facilities associated with ocean 
                and coastal activities, including human resources, 
                vessels, computers, satellites, and other appropriate 
                platforms and technologies, and recommendations for 
                investments and improvements in those facilities.
                    (C) A review of existing and planned ocean and 
                coastal activities of Federal entities, and 
                recommendations for changes in such activities 
                necessary to reduce duplication of Federal efforts.
                    (D) A review of the cumulative effect of Federal 
                laws and regulations on United States ocean policy, an 
                examination of those laws and regulations for 
                inconsistencies and contradictions that might adversely 
                affect the conduct of ocean and coastal activities, and 
                recommendations for resolving any such inconsistencies. 
                In particular, this portion of the report shall include 
                an examination of the relationship between the 
                fisheries development and fisheries conservation 
                responsibilities of the National Marine Fisheries 
                Service.
                    (E) A review of the known and anticipated supply of 
                and demand for ocean and coastal resources of the 
                United States.
                    (F) A review of the relationship between Federal, 
                State, and local governments and the private sector in 
                planning and carrying out ocean and coastal activities, 
                and recommendations for enhancing the role of State and 
                local governments.
                    (G) A review of opportunities for the development 
                of or investment in new products, technologies, or 
                markets related to ocean and coastal activities.
                    (H) A review of previous and ongoing State efforts 
                and Federal efforts to enhance the effectiveness and 
                integration of ocean activities, including those 
                occurring offshore and in nearshore saltwater 
                estuaries.
            (4) State comments.--The Commission shall include in the 
        final report comments received from the Governor of any coastal 
        State regarding recommendations in the draft report that apply 
        to areas within the boundaries of that coastal State.
            (5) Consideration of factors.--In making its assessments 
        and reviews and developing its recommendations, the Commission 
        shall give full and balanced consideration to environmental, 
        technical, economic, and other relevant factors, with an equal 
        opportunity for all parties to present a fair and reasonable 
        case for unbiased consideration by the Commission. All 
        recommendations should consider effects on private property. To 
        the greatest extent possible, no recommendations shall have a 
        negative impact on local economies that are dependent on ocean 
        and coastal resources. Any data used by the Commission in 
        making its recommendations for regulations shall be peer 
        reviewed.
            (6) Limitation on recommendations.--The Commission shall 
        not make any specific recommendations with respect to lands and 
        waters within the boundary of any State located north of 51 
        degrees North latitude, or with respect to lands and waters 
        within the State of Idaho.
    (c) Duties of the Chair.--In carrying out the provisions of this 
section, the Chair of the Commission shall be responsible for--
            (1) the assignment of duties and responsibilities among 
        staff personnel and their continuing supervision; and
            (2) the use and expenditures of funds available to the 
        Commission.
    (d) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall, subject to the 
availability of appropriations, when engaged in the actual performance 
of duties of the Commission, receive reimbursement of travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence as authorized for persons 
employed intermittently in the Government service under section 3109 of 
title 5, United States Code.
    (e) Staff.--
            (1) Executive director.--The Chair of the Commission may, 
        with the consent of the Commission and without regard to the 
        civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an 
        executive director who is knowledgeable in administrative 
        management and ocean and coastal policy and such other 
        additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the 
        Commission to perform its duties.
            (2) Compensation.--The executive director shall, subject to 
        the availability of appropriations, be compensated at a rate 
        not to exceed the rate payable for Level V of the Executive 
        Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. The 
        Chairman may fix the compensation of other personnel without 
        regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
        chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to 
        classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, 
        except that the rate of pay for such personnel may not exceed 
        the rate payable for GS-15, step 7, of the General Schedule 
        under section 5332 of such title.
            (3) Detailees.--Upon a request of the Chair of the 
        Commission made after consulting with the head of any Federal 
        agencies responsible for managing ocean and coastal resources, 
        the head of any such Federal agency may detail appropriate 
        personnel of the agency to the Commission to assist the 
        Commission in carrying out its functions under this Act. 
        Federal Government employees detailed to the Commission shall 
        serve without reimbursement from the Commission, and shall 
        retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular 
        employment without interruption.
            (4) Experts and consultants.--To the extent that funds are 
        available, and subject to such rules as may be prescribed by 
        the Commission, the executive director of the Commission may 
        procure the temporary and intermittent services of experts and 
        consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United 
        States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate payable 
        for GS-15, step 7, of the General Schedule under section 5332 
        of title 5, United States Code.
    (f) Administration.--
            (1) Meetings.--All meetings of the Commission shall be open 
        to the public, except that a meeting or any portion of it may 
        be closed to the public if it concerns matters or information 
        described in section 552b(c) of title 5, United States Code. 
        Interested persons shall be permitted to appear at open 
        meetings and present written statements or oral statements at 
        the discretion of the Commission on the subject matter of the 
        meeting. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to 
        any person appearing before it.
            (2) Notice of meetings.--All open meetings of the 
        Commission shall be preceded by timely public notice, including 
        notice in the Federal Register, of the time, place, and subject 
        of the meeting.
            (3) Minutes and other records.--(A) Minutes of each meeting 
        shall be kept and shall contain a record of the people present, 
        a description of the discussion that occurred, and copies of 
        all statements filed. Subject to restrictions set forth in 
        section 552 of title 5, United States Code, the minutes and 
        records of all meetings and other documents that were made 
        available to or prepared for the Commission shall be available 
        for public inspection and copying at a single location in the 
        offices of the Commission.
            (B) The Commission shall have at least one meeting in each 
        of the following 6 geographic regions of the United States:
                    (i) The Northeast.
                    (ii) The Southeast.
                    (iii) The Southwest.
                    (iv) The Northwest.
                    (v) The Great Lakes States.
                    (vi) The Gulf of Mexico States.
    (g) Cooperation With Other Federal Entities.--
            (1) Other federal agencies and departments.--The Commission 
        may secure directly from any Federal agency or department any 
        information it considers necessary to carry out its functions 
        under this Act. Each such agency or department may cooperate 
        with the Commission and, to the extent permitted by law, 
        furnish such information to the Commission, upon the request of 
        the Chair of the Commission.
            (2) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails 
        in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments 
        and agencies of the United States.
            (3) Acquisitions.--The Commission may enter into contracts 
        with Federal and State agencies, private firms, institutions, 
        and individuals to assist the Commission in carrying out its 
        duties. The Commission may purchase and contract without regard 
        to section 18 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act 
        (41 U.S.C. 416) and section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 
        U.S.C. 637), pertaining to competition and publication 
        requirements, and may arrange for printing without regard to 
        the provisions of title 44, United States Code. The contracting 
        authority of the Commission under this Act is effective only to 
        the extent that appropriations are available for contracting 
        purposes.
    (h) Termination.--The Commission shall cease to exist 30 days after 
the date on which it submits its final report.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to support the activities of the Commission $2,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1999 and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2000. Any sums 
appropriated may remain available without fiscal year limitation until 
the Commission ceases to exist.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 15, 1998.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
answer:
Oceans Act of 1998 - Requires that the Congress and the President, after considering the Commission report under this Act, develop a coordinated, comprehensive, and long-range national policy for the use and stewardship of ocean and coastal resources for the benefit of the United States, including a plan to meet the resource monitoring and assessment facilities and equipment requirements of Federal ocean and coastal programs.  Mandates a biennial report by the President to the Congress listing all existing Federal programs relating to ocean and coastal activities.  Requires each agency or department involved in ocean and coastal activities to include with its annual appropriations request a report identifying elements of its budget relating to ocean and coastal activities. 
Establishes the Commission on Ocean Policy and requires it to report to the Congress and the President regarding U.S. ocean policy. Requires opening the draft report for public comment before submitting the final report.  Prohibits Commission recommendations regarding lands and waters within:  (1) the boundary of any State north of 51 degrees North latitude; or (2) the State of Idaho.  Terminates the Commission after submission of its final report.  Authorizes appropriations.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Startup Opportunity Accelerator Act 
of 2014'' or the ``SOAR Act''.

SEC. 2. FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT STARTUP BUSINESSES.

    The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 47 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) as 
        section 48; and
            (2) by inserting after section 46 the following:

``SEC. 47. FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT STARTUP BUSINESSES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `eligible entity' means an organization--
                    ``(A) that is located in the United States; and
                    ``(B) the primary purpose of which is to support 
                new small business concerns;
            ``(2) the term `new small business concern' means a small 
        business concern that has been in operation for not more than 5 
        years; and
            ``(3) the term `State' means any State of the United 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
    ``(b) Funding.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Administrator shall develop and 
        begin implementing a program to award cash prizes of not more 
        than $50,000 to eligible entities to support new small business 
        concerns.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--A prize under this section--
                    ``(A) may be used for construction costs, space 
                acquisition, and programmatic purposes; and
                    ``(B) may not be used to provide capital or 
                professional services to new small business concerns 
                directly or through the subaward of funds.
    ``(c) Requirement for Applicants.--An eligible entity desiring a 
prize under this section shall demonstrate that the eligible entity 
will use the prize to provide assistance to not less than 10 new small 
business concerns per year.
    ``(d) Criteria.--The Administrator shall establish criteria for 
prizes under this section that shall give priority to eligible entities 
that are providing or plan to provide to new small business concerns--
            ``(1) office, manufacturing, or warehouse space, including 
        appropriate operations infrastructure;
            ``(2) access to capital (either directly from the eligible 
        entity (using amounts other than the amounts provided under the 
        prize) or through guidance and contacts for acquiring capital 
        from outside investors);
            ``(3) access to professional services (either directly from 
        the eligible entity (using amounts other than the amounts 
        provided under the prize) or through guidance and contacts for 
        acquiring professional services), including accounting and 
        legal services; or
            ``(4) a formal structured mentorship or developmental 
        program that assists new small business concerns with building 
        business skills and competencies.
    ``(e) Considerations in Choosing Recipients.--In determining 
whether to award a prize under this section to an eligible entity, the 
Administrator shall take into account--
            ``(1) for eligible entities that have in operation a 
        program to support new small business concerns, the record of 
        the eligible entity in assisting new small business concerns, 
        including, for each of the 3 full years before the date on 
        which the eligible entity applies for a prize under this 
        section--
                    ``(A) the retention rate of new small business 
                concerns in the program of the eligible entity;
                    ``(B) the average period of participation by new 
                small business concerns in the program of the eligible 
                entity;
                    ``(C) the total, average, and median capital raised 
                by new small business concerns participating in the 
                program of the eligible entity; and
                    ``(D) the total, average, and median number of 
                employees of new small business concerns participating 
                in the program of the eligible entity;
            ``(2) for all eligible entities--
                    ``(A) the number of new small business concerns 
                assisted or anticipated to be assisted by the eligible 
                entity;
                    ``(B) the number of new small business concerns 
                applying or anticipated to apply for assistance from 
                the eligible entity;
                    ``(C) whether the program of the eligible entity 
                provides or would provide assistance to individuals in 
                gender, racial, or ethnic groups underrepresented by 
                existing programs to assist new small business 
                concerns; and
                    ``(D) other metrics determined appropriate by the 
                Administrator;
            ``(3) the need in the geographic area to be served by the 
        program to be carried out using the prize for additional 
        assistance for new small business concerns, if the area has 
        sufficient population density, as determined by the 
        Administrator;
            ``(4) the level of experience of the entrepreneurial 
        leadership of the eligible entity; and
            ``(5) the ability of the eligible entity to use and 
        leverage local strengths, including human resources, 
        infrastructure, and educational institutions.
    ``(f) Matching Nonpublic Funding Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a prize 
        under this section shall obtain funds from a private individual 
        or entity (including a for profit or nonprofit entity) that 
        are--
                    ``(A) for the same purposes as a prize may be made 
                under this section;
                    ``(B) used to carry out the program of the eligible 
                entity carried out using the prize under this section; 
                and
                    ``(C) in an amount that is not to be less than 50 
                percent of the amount of the prize under this section.
            ``(2) Form of non-federal share.--Not more than 25 percent 
        of the funds obtained under paragraph (1) may be in the form of 
        in-kind contributions.
    ``(g) Consequences of Failure To Abide by Terms and Conditions of 
Prize or Requirements of This Section.--The Administrator shall notify 
each eligible entity receiving a prize under this section that failure 
to abide by the terms and conditions of the prize or the requirements 
of this section may, in the discretion of the Administrator and in 
addition to any other civil or criminal consequences, result in the 
Administrator ordering the eligible entity to return the prize funds.
    ``(h) Annual Progress Reporting by Recipients of Prize.--Each 
eligible entity receiving a prize under this section shall submit to 
the Administrator an annual report on the progress of the program 
carried out using the amounts received under the prize, including--
            ``(1) the number of new small business concerns 
        participating in the program during each of the previous 3 
        years;
            ``(2) the number of new small business concerns applying to 
        participate in the program during each of the previous 3 years;
            ``(3) the retention rate of new small business concerns in 
        the program;
            ``(4) the average period of participation in the program by 
        new small business concerns;
            ``(5) the total, average, and median capital raised by new 
        small business concerns participating in the program;
            ``(6) the total, average, and median number of employees of 
        new small business concerns participating in the program; and
            ``(7) other metrics determined appropriate by the 
        Administrator.
    ``(i) Report to Congress.--The Administrator shall submit to 
Congress an annual report on the program under this section, which 
shall include an assessment of the effectiveness of the program, 
including an assessment based on the metrics listed in subsection (h).
    ``(j) Coordination With Other Small Business Administration 
Programs.--The Administrator shall take appropriate action to encourage 
eligible entities receiving a prize under this section to use and 
incorporate other programs of the Administration, such as small 
business development centers, small business investment companies, 
loans under section 7(a), and assistance under title V of the Small 
Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 695 et seq.).
    ``(k) Listing on Website.--The Administrator shall include a list 
of eligible entities receiving a prize under this section on the 
website of the Administration.
    ``(l) Authorization of Appropriation.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the first 
5 fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
section.''.
answer:
Startup Opportunity Accelerator Act of 2014 or the SOAR Act - Amends the Small Business Act to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop a program to award cash prizes of up to $50,000 to organizations in the United States whose primary purpose is to support new small businesses that have been in operation for five years or less. Authorizes the use of a prize for construction costs, space acquisition, and programmatic purposes. Prohibits its use for capital or professional services to new small businesses. Requires a prize recipient to provide assistance to at least 10 new small businesses per year. 


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Local Exchange Infrastructure 
Modernization Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) a ubiquitous high quality public switched network will 
        promote--
                    (A) universal service at reasonable rates;
                    (B) the universal availability of advanced public 
                switched network capabilities and information services;
                    (C) the public health, safety, national defense, 
                education and security and emergency preparedness;
                    (D) the economic development and quality of life by 
                bringing access to advanced public switched network 
                capabilities to the American people regardless of their 
                location;
                    (E) new services and motivate new service providers 
                by providing uniform accessibility and 
                interoperability;
                    (F) the international competitiveness of American 
                industry; and
                    (G) a seamless, nationwide, coordinated and state-
                of-the-art public switched network that will enhance 
                the quality of life for all Americans;
            (2) the increasing technological complexity and need for 
        ubiquitous infrastructure capability and interoperability of 
        the public switched network requires--
                    (A) sharing of the public switched network 
                infrastructure and functionality between and among 
                local exchange carriers;
                    (B) joint coordinated network planning, design and 
                cooperative implementation among all local exchange 
                carriers; and
                    (C) development of standards for interconnection 
                between the local exchange carrier public switched 
                network and others by appropriate standards-setting 
                bodies;
            (3) the access services provided by the local exchange 
        carrier public switched network to competitive carriers, 
        information service providers and others, tie these diverse 
        elements into an interoperable national telecommunications 
        network;
            (4) a ubiquitous, advanced local exchange carrier public 
        switched network enhances the function and availability of 
        services provided by all carriers and all other persons 
        accessing the local exchange carrier public switched network; 
        and
            (5) it is in the public interest to promote development of 
        the public switched network by local exchange carriers because 
        they--
                    (A) have universal service obligations for 
                geographically specific serving areas for which they 
                must construct a ubiquitous infrastructure;
                    (B) provide public switched network services that 
                are subject to regulation with respect to rates, terms 
                and conditions;
                    (C) must provide network access to their own 
                competitors on nondiscriminatory rates, terms and 
                conditions; and
                    (D) are suppliers of last resort to customers in 
                their serving areas.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934.

    (a) Amendment to Section 1.--Section 1 of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 151) is amended by designating the existing text as 
subsection (a), and adding at the end thereof the following new 
subsection:
    ``(b) The Commission shall exercise its authority so as to--
            ``(1) preserve and enhance universal service at reasonable 
        rates;
            ``(2) achieve universal availability of advanced network 
        capabilities and information services;
            ``(3) assure a seamless nationwide distribution network 
        through joint networking planning, coordination and service 
        arrangements between and among local exchange carriers;
            ``(4) maintain high standards for quality of advanced 
        network services; and
            ``(5) assure adequate communication for the public health, 
        safety, defense, education, national security and emergency 
        preparedness.''.
    (b) Amendment to Section 2.--Section 2(b) of the Communications Act 
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 152) is amended by deleting ``227'' and inserting in 
lieu thereof ``229''.
    (c) Amendment to Section 3.--Section 3 of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 153) is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following new definitions:
    ``(hh) The term `local exchange carrier' means a carrier which--
            ``(1) is required to provide upon request, under tariff or 
        subject to other government oversight (by the Commission or a 
        State commission), interstate and intrastate access services 
        and telephone exchange service;
            ``(2) is, or was, a participant in one or more interstate 
        pools established by the Commission, or would have been 
        required to participate in one or more such pools had the 
        carrier been engaged in interstate and intrastate access and 
        telephone exchange service while such participation was 
        mandatory;
            ``(3) is subject to the requirements imposed by the 
        Commission or a State commission related to the provision of 
        equal access; and
            ``(4) conforms with the provisions of the North American 
        Numbering Plan applicable to the assignment of numbering 
        resources for telephone exchange service, as defined by the 
        Plan's Administrator.
    ``(ii) The term `Modification of Final Judgment' means the decree 
entered August 24, 1982, in United States v. Western Electric, Civil 
Action No. 82-0192 (United States District Court, District of 
Columbia).''.
    (d) Amendment to Title II.--Title II of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof 
the following new sections:

``SEC. 228. NETWORK PLANNING AND STANDARDS.

    ``The Commission shall, within 180 days following the date of the 
enactment of this section, prescribe regulations that require--
            ``(1) joint coordinated network planning, design and 
        cooperative implementation among all local exchange carriers in 
        the provision of public switched network infrastructure and 
        services; and
            ``(2) development of standards for interconnection between 
        the local exchange carrier public switched network and others 
        by appropriate standard-setting bodies.

``SEC. 229. INFRASTRUCTURE SHARING ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN OR AMONG LOCAL 
              EXCHANGE CARRIERS.

    ``(a) Within 180 days following the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Commission shall prescribe regulations that require a 
local exchange carrier to share public switched network infrastructure 
and functionality with requesting local exchange carriers lacking 
economies of scale or scope, as defined in subsection (b).
    ``(b) For the purposes of this section, the term `local exchange 
carrier lacking economies of scale or scope' means any local exchange 
carrier which serves a geographic area for which it lacks economies of 
scale or scope for the particular required network functionality.
    ``(c) The regulations governing such sharing between or among local 
exchange carriers shall--
            ``(1) promote economically efficient decision-making by 
        local exchange carriers;
            ``(2) not require any local exchange carrier to make any 
        decision that is uneconomic or adverse to the public interest;
            ``(3) permit, but not require, joint ownership and 
        operation of public switched network infrastructure and 
        services by or among local exchange carriers;
            ``(4) limit their applicability to local exchange carriers;
            ``(5) ensure that a local exchange carrier, when sharing 
        any infrastructure or providing any functionality to other 
        local exchange carriers pursuant to this section, shall not be 
        deemed a common carrier for hire when acting in this capacity, 
        and such arrangements shall not be deemed common carrier 
        services by the Commission or by any State commission;
            ``(6) ensure that fair and reasonable terms and conditions 
        for and in connection with the business arrangement described 
        in this section are determined by local exchange carriers in 
        accordance with general guidelines contained in the regulations 
        prescribed pursuant to this section;
            ``(7) establish conditions that promote cooperation between 
        local exchange carriers; and
            ``(8) ensure that all regulatory rights and obligations for 
        and in connection with the business arrangements described in 
        this section shall be determined exclusively in accordance with 
        the regulations prescribed pursuant to this section.
    ``(d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to enact into law any 
economic support currently provided to telephone exchange service or 
enact into law any prohibition with regard to new economic support 
mechanisms for telephone exchange service or any service other than 
telephone exchange service.

``SEC. 230. SIGNALLING.

    ``Notwithstanding any other law or any restriction or obligation 
imposed before the date of enactment of this section pursuant to 
Modification of Final Judgment, no local exchange carrier shall be 
prohibited from transporting or processing signalling and information 
for another local exchange carrier in adjoining or reasonably proximate 
serving areas upon request of that local exchange carrier to the same 
extent that the providing local exchange carrier is permitted to engage 
in such activities for itself.

``SEC. 231. INTRASTATE COMMUNICATION.

    ``Except as provided in section 2, nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to alter, limit, or supersede the authority of any State with 
respect to the regulation of intrastate communication service.''.

SEC. 4. ANTITRUST IMMUNITY FOR LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS.

    (a) Nothing contained in any Federal or State antitrust law shall 
render unlawful any action taken by a local exchange carrier pursuant 
to sections 228, 229, and 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, or any 
individual or concerted action taken, including but not limited to, 
lobbying before Congress or the Federal Communications Commission or 
communicating by any means with other local exchange carriers, by any 
local exchange carrier, or its directors, officers, agents, employees, 
affiliates, subsidiaries, joint ventures, counsel or other persons 
purporting to act on behalf of such carrier.
    (b) For purposes of this Act, the following terms are defined to 
mean:
            (1) The term ``Federal Antitrust Laws'' means the Acts 
        known as the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), the Clayton Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.), the Robinson-Patman Act (15 U.S.C. 13 
        et seq.), the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et 
        seq.), all subsequent amendments of such Acts, and any and all 
        other laws which have been or are hereafter enacted to regulate 
        or prevent contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in 
        restraint of trade or monopolistic practices.
            (2) The term ``State Antitrust Laws'' means all laws 
        enacted by States or territories within the United States or 
        their political subdivisions which are patterned after the 
        Federal laws known as the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), 
        the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.), the Robinson-Patman Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 13 et seq.), the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 
        U.S.C. 41 et seq.), or any subsequent amendments to such Acts, 
        or any other State laws which are not patterned after such 
        Federal Acts or amendments but which are designed to regulate 
        or prevent contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in 
        restraint of trade or monopolistic practices.
answer:

Local Exchange Infrastructure Modernization Act of 1993 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to exercise its authority to:  (1) preserve and enhance universal telephone service at reasonable rates; (2) achieve universal availability of advanced network capabilities and information services; (3) assure a seamless nationwide distribution network through joint network planning, coordination, and service arrangements between and among local exchange carriers (LECs); (4) maintain high standards of quality for advanced network services; and (5) assure adequate communication for the public health, safety, defense, education, national security, and emergency preparedness. 
Defines "local exchange carrier" for purposes of such Act. 
Requires the FCC to prescribe regulations that require:  (1) joint coordinated network planning, design, and cooperative implementation among all LECs in the provision of public switched network infrastructure and services; (2) development of standards for interconnection between the LEC public switched network and others by appropriate standard-setting bodies; and (3) a LEC to share public switched network infrastructure and functionality with requesting LECs which serve a geographic area for which they lack economies of scale or scope for the particular required network functionality.