116 HR 4229 PCS: Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act
U.S. House of Representatives
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act
or the Broadband DATA Act
. 2.The Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
<enum>VIII</enum><header>Broadband Data</header>
<section id="HED89A381761A4421A115E71B969BCBFF"><enum>801.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> <paragraph id="HE19CFE04A06940AD8F4D91CE0E6B13A6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Broadband internet access service</header><text>The term <term>broadband internet access service</term> has the meaning given the term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA96CF3AF9D334CE1A9823B4BCA70E278"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Broadband Map</header><text>The term <term>Broadband Map</term> means the map created by the Commission under section 802(c)(1)(A).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3872F084C2C0452A89237D00645BDD21"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Cell edge probability</header><text>The term <term>cell edge probability</term> means the likelihood that the minimum threshold download and upload speeds with respect to broadband internet access service will be met or exceeded at a distance from a base station that is intended to indicate the ultimate edge of the coverage area of a cell.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE2148839CE294C6D81740EE48429A298"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Cell loading</header><text>The term <term>cell loading</term> means the percentage of the available air interface resources of a base station that are used by consumers with respect to broadband internet access service.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE6C973847EBD4F968304B19549877C41"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Clutter</header><text>The term <term>clutter</term> means a natural or man-made surface feature that affects the propagation of a signal from a base station.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7489D65B972C4CA7A83466F66884CCC2"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Fabric</header><text>The term <term>Fabric</term> means the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric established under section 802(b)(1)(B).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF1E37E5C1C144605A6E977BCB4C79E0C"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Form 477</header><text>The term <term>Form 477</term> means Form 477 of the Commission relating to local telephone competition and broadband reporting.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF978B71AD42B44B5AA7FB59A976281DE"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Indian Tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian Tribe</term> has the meaning given the term <term>Indian tribe</term> in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H90AC05C22225432B8C03FF1BF1950BDE"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Mobility Fund Phase II</header><text>The term <term>Mobility Fund Phase II</term> means the second phase of the proceeding to provide universal service support from the Mobility Fund (WC Docket No. 10–90; WT Docket No. 10–208).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBF2A3268129D4C4AB556C18580C5FDF9"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Propagation model</header><text>The term <term>propagation model</term> means a mathematical formulation for the characterization of radio wave propagation as a function of frequency, distance, and other conditions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBE2CA3D12C0A460E895F2B37219040A4"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Provider</header><text>The term <term>provider</term> means a provider of fixed or mobile broadband internet access service.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HDD3FF8A65E6D4A4DB3F0285BBE43A72B"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Quality of service</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>quality of service</quote> means information regarding offered download and upload speeds and latency of a provider’s broadband internet access service as determined by and to the extent otherwise collected by the Commission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBD5D5E50917044C381CB4498CC933A24"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Shapefile</header><text>The term <term>shapefile</term> means a digital storage format containing geospatial or location-based data and attribute information—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4F5F9D47858642519595EE87ED6D1E0A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regarding the availability of broadband internet access service; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H67862599832F419EB22E379030B94835"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that can be viewed, edited, and mapped in geographic information system software.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H50C498AE3FFF48998AA8156F6D5972F5"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Standard broadband installation</header><text>The term <term>standard broadband installation</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="H7042596DA4BA4111BAF1CF16142BA6F4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means the initiation by a provider of fixed broadband internet access service in an area where the provider has not previously offered that service, with no charges or delays attributable to the extension of the network of the provider; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFDD48FA76C664FF6BFDAFDE5976AB5D8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes the initiation of fixed broadband internet access service through routine installation that can be completed not later than 10 business days after the date on which the service request is submitted.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H95A3C65FBF474E7BA5E089F25E9999DD"><enum>802.</enum><header>Broadband maps</header>
<subsection id="H1EFB4A94662C43AEB96A91F95D90E84C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rules</header>
<paragraph id="HBEB19991356543F3A5384E8D2641BF48"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this title, the Commission shall issue rules that shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCA8C1DD94D8143D289AE8E69E325255B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">require the collection and dissemination of granular data, as determined by the Commission—</text> <clause id="H1F42751CB78B4D85AFCF8E830DE86F55"><enum>(i)</enum><text>relating to the availability and quality of service of terrestrial fixed, fixed wireless, satellite, and mobile broadband internet access service; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H5EB4531521F445E690441EC540D41CCF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that the Commission shall use to compile the maps created under subsection (c)(1) (referred to in this section as <quote>coverage maps</quote>), which the Commission shall make publicly available; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFBEE974DC2B44CBDA5054087C11726B6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>establish—</text> <clause id="HA32CAAEE491D4AEAAFC0385FF253900C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>processes through which the Commission can verify the accuracy of data submitted under subsection (b)(2);</text>
</clause><clause id="H221BB8DAF81F43C08D7A13A98526CB2C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">processes and procedures through which the Commission, and, as necessary, other entities or persons submitting non-public or competitively sensitive information under this title, can protect the security, privacy, and confidentiality of such non-public or competitively sensitive information, including—</text>
<subclause id="H601D70D0EE664EFC98D405519D2A65A8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>information contained in the Fabric;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H265844D802C040A68DA08B2BB8C223E0"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the dataset created under subsection (b)(1)(A) supporting the Fabric; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H1DF725F9FD214218B81B1C3697B31A94"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the data submitted under subsection (b)(2);</text> </subclause></clause><clause id="H0DE6D6E6FB8A486C96EC8810A062DE1D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the challenge process described in subsection (b)(5); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H01C3670061974EF5A41DD29237C45E53"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the process described in section 803(b).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE7F0581FBE1749DC860907ECCF6A040E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other data</header><text>In issuing the rules under paragraph (1), the Commission shall develop a process through which the Commission can collect verified data for use in the coverage maps from—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF61F677829844A8AB2488D211342B1FC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>State, local, and Tribal governmental entities that are primarily responsible for mapping or tracking broadband internet access service coverage for a State, unit of local government, or Indian Tribe, as applicable;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA888A593DFEE4D90A3DC7FFFF77455EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">third parties, including industry analysis, mapping, or tracking of broadband internet access service coverage and quality of service, if the Commission determines that it is in the public interest to use such data in—</text>
<clause id="HE94012CA48904E85A1E5637A2E6A56AA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the development of the coverage maps; or</text> </clause><clause id="HB889B54A54C2405AA24B112FF1655422"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the verification of data submitted under subsection (b); and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H481C2F8FED214D7BAC55F40F559087AF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other Federal agencies.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDE6C112E30B441879C16D47BA440F461"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Updates</header><text>The Commission shall revise the rules issued under paragraph (1) to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE300F140BFE740BBA111237F54EDA5BE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reflect changes in technology;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE2E5E5A1BBA746D3822CDBE48670DFEE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>ensure the accuracy of propagation models, as further provided in subsection (b)(3); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6217D2AF574E4B0B883585253F8AA7E7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>improve the usefulness of the coverage maps.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFCA85A1E36094772B32ACFD8317333A8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Content of rules</header> <paragraph id="H935C4F8411B241B9887BB5E97ED33A65"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment of a serviceable location fabric regarding fixed broadband</header> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H853F4FD8F7F348A49FD5903246EDDD96"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Dataset</header> <clause commented="no" id="H225EBBD8D9864177BE20454D0364C0A4"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Commission shall create a common dataset of all locations in the United States where fixed broadband internet access service can be installed, as determined by the Commission.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HC19FDAE7B24640C0A5333A35A6E57A3C"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Contracting</header>
<subclause commented="no" id="H5F516DCFE444431B90F8811D584F326D"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subclauses (II) and (III), the Commission may only contract with an entity with expertise with respect to geographic information systems (referred to in this subsection as <quote>GIS</quote>) to create and maintain the dataset under clause (i).</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HC084A7331A8E4ADBB0079C86A9EA90C2"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Application of the Federal Acquisition Regulation</header><text>A contract into which the Commission enters under subclause (I) shall in all respects comply with applicable provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H3BBEBD15C53F4F949395273F48BF3A02"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>With respect to a contract into which the Commission enters under subclause (I)—</text> <item commented="no" id="HCC1539D016BD4F149A4780D0A85407EE"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the entity with which the Commission contracts shall be selected through a competitive bid process that is transparent and open;</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H8054839C86044D58AECDE93EE50702A9"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the contract shall be for a term of not longer than 5 years, after which the Commission may enter into a new contract—</text>
<subitem commented="no" id="HDEB82E40CD844D3CB84A3A5DD9B7C874"><enum>(AA)</enum><text>with an entity, and for the purposes, described in clause (i); and</text> </subitem><subitem commented="no" id="HE3307FC4E9C14974B9CD630DC5ED07B5"><enum>(BB)</enum><text>that complies with the requirements under subclause (II) and this subclause; and</text>
</subitem></item><item id="H05B5F6DF1B5140EBA076285EA6CA4764"><enum>(cc)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the contract shall prohibit the entity with which the Commission contracts (and require such entity to include in any contract with any other entity with which such entity contracts a provision prohibiting such other entity) from selling, leasing, or otherwise disclosing for monetary consideration any personally identifiable information to any entity other than for purposes authorized under this title.</text>
</item></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H635D4579E2AF4A3884797D68C22092E1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fabric</header><text>The rules issued by the Commission under subsection (a)(1) shall establish the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric, which shall—</text>
<clause id="H5506FD5B2E7F45CEB464E15026398DAA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>contain geocoded information for each location identified under subparagraph (A)(i);</text> </clause><clause id="HB7E380059E354EFAA751022AF51AA4F0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>serve as the foundation upon which all data relating to the availability of fixed broadband internet access service collected under paragraph (2)(A) shall be reported and overlaid;</text>
</clause><clause id="H43CB74816AFB4D3791764A11D3D44176"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>be compatible with commonly used GIS software; and</text> </clause><clause id="HDB4A47F7278B48269C760E4C619B6620"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>at a minimum, be updated every 6 months by the Commission.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF43C2426A9304E0A9E55AD1108DDCB94"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Implementation priority</header><text>The Commission shall prioritize implementing the Fabric for rural and insular areas of the United States.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2F56F0A461AD4ED99762C493D63530BE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Collection of information</header><text>The rules issued by the Commission under subsection (a)(1) shall include uniform standards for the reporting of broadband internet access service data that the Commission shall collect—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD45DFE335BDE4AE0B82D69E80031138A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>from each provider of terrestrial fixed, fixed wireless, or satellite broadband internet access service, which shall include data that—</text>
<clause id="H2851967630434E69852CDF580A54C393"><enum>(i)</enum><text>documents the areas where the provider—</text> <subclause id="H32F09979A766432AA2E76BB8F5C8C97B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>has actually built out the broadband network infrastructure of the provider such that the provider is able to provide that service; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H6F3F1327FE8D407B8C0E734547FC8783"><enum>(II)</enum><text>could provide that service, as determined by identifying where the provider is capable of performing a standard broadband installation, if applicable;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H24EAE0BAEFC14D87B38F3FD95B0EB083"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">includes information regarding download and upload speeds, at various thresholds established by the Commission, and, if applicable, latency with respect to broadband internet access service that the provider makes available;</text>
</clause><clause id="H5BBED2C2E58743B5809E2B2750609F7D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>can be georeferenced to the GIS data in the Fabric;</text> </clause><clause id="H15B38A8971F943599E669A286235D1D8"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the provider shall report as—</text>
<subclause id="HA600D769CE3942F79F3CF946CDDB4D71"><enum>(I)</enum><text>with respect to providers of fixed wireless broadband internet access service—</text> <item id="HBB99AF9A93614A2FACDDDB6EDBDEC6E4"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>propagation maps and propagation model details that—</text>
<subitem id="H189052AC06394774AA2A80E3ADE75D5E"><enum>(AA)</enum><text>satisfy standards that are similar to those applicable to providers of mobile broadband internet access service under subparagraph (B) with respect to propagation maps and propagation model details, taking into account material differences between fixed wireless and mobile broadband internet access service; and</text>
</subitem><subitem id="H99700D27316D4147894610829F1C58FC"><enum>(BB)</enum><text>reflect the speeds and latency of the service provided by the provider; or</text> </subitem></item><item id="H9B072F7D137641D0AB62475D499E04F7"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>a list of addresses or locations that constitute the service area of the provider, except that the Commission—</text>
<subitem id="HDAC36B268BB2477BB7F2DF2002387A04"><enum>(AA)</enum><text>may only permit, and not require, a provider to report the data using that means of reporting; and</text> </subitem><subitem id="HF65B807257754339A68C2C1CC3FD3030"><enum>(BB)</enum><text>in the rules issued under subsection (a)(1), shall provide a method for using that means of reporting with respect to Tribal areas; and</text>
</subitem></item></subclause><subclause id="H9636823B7D074BE099B1A6BC21D75A78"><enum>(II)</enum><text>with respect to providers of terrestrial fixed and satellite broadband internet access service—</text> <item id="H0E3FF215840549D4B6931B61DE954710"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>polygon shapefiles; or</text>
</item><item id="H6B78BB67C3F34409B7528864C2A6CD54"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>a list of addresses or locations that constitute the service area of the provider, except that the Commission—</text>
<subitem id="H1BD1B93AE1B84E5F824F8CC5EDD2A083"><enum>(AA)</enum><text>may only permit, and not require, a provider to report the data using that means of reporting; and</text> </subitem><subitem id="H00A8045DEA864934B46AC8CF811D7A7D"><enum>(BB)</enum><text>in the rules issued under subsection (a)(1), shall provide a method for using that means of reporting with respect to Tribal areas; and</text>
</subitem></item></subclause></clause><clause id="HDBC3CCD0E8294773968113FFF97F798B"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Commission determines is appropriate with respect to certain technologies in order to ensure that the Broadband Map is granular and accurate; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC9407EB44A724F0D95500B2FDF5321C7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>from each provider of mobile broadband internet access service, which shall include propagation maps, and propagation model details, that indicate the current (as of the date on which the information is collected) fourth generation Long-Term Evolution (commonly referred to as <quote>4G LTE</quote>) mobile broadband internet access service coverage of the provider, which shall—</text>
<clause id="HA0469952692B497BBDED23D8BCD65489"><enum>(i)</enum><text>take into consideration the effect of clutter; and</text> </clause><clause id="H5A759C66557148DDB062657D0044C32D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>satisfy—</text>
<subclause commented="no" id="H2B8088B894B7422A9C62F95CDE9E2594"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the requirements of having—</text> <item commented="no" id="H3A5BC9CE528344DEA7C4415A17C63B1D"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>a download speed of not less than 5 megabits per second and an upload speed of not less than 1 megabit per second with a cell edge probability of not less than 90 percent; and</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H973091FA273A482E9707311BD558F6C5"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>cell loading of not less than 50 percent; and</text> </item></subclause><subclause id="H4B6D78375F1F43B6BAADBC4F14072EF8"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any other parameter that the Commission determines to be necessary to create a map under subsection (c)(1)(C) that is more precise than the map produced as a result of the submissions under the Mobility Fund Phase II information collection.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1A529141BA8645CA883FC3A79325EBA0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Update of reporting standards for mobile broadband internet access service</header><text>For the purposes of paragraph (2)(B), if the Commission determines that the reporting standards under that paragraph are insufficient to collect accurate propagation maps and propagation model details with respect to future generations of mobile broadband internet access service technologies, the Commission shall immediately commence a rulemaking to adopt new reporting standards with respect to those technologies that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9218C07D39324C19BEE623648FBDF989"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be the functional equivalent of the standards required under paragraph (2)(B); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDE5E819EEF8145718B8BD65650883A79"><enum>(B)</enum><text>allow for the collection of propagation maps and propagation model details that are as accurate and granular as, or more accurate and granular than, the maps and model details collected by the Commission under paragraph (2)(B).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H70D60BD146A842838022C58566FF4A6F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Certification and verification</header><text>With respect to a provider that submits information to the Commission under paragraph (2)—</text> <subparagraph id="HD7E8D7A12FBD4D918E5D119D68C06553"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the provider shall include in each submission a certification from a corporate officer of the provider that the officer has examined the information contained in the submission and that, to the best of the officer’s actual knowledge, information, and belief, all statements of fact contained in the submission are true and correct; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3625BB28945E4157B7384AEE4ADE70BA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Commission shall verify the accuracy and reliability of the information in accordance with measures established by the Commission.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE9B2FF7C9B924D1BB40C9C2E96FAA95B"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Challenge process</header>
<subparagraph id="H5185B6ACAD3B4E8A8C4AB8665C2479BC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In the rules issued under subsection (a)(1), and subject to subparagraph (B), the Commission shall establish a user-friendly challenge process through which consumers, State, local, and Tribal governmental entities, and other entities or persons may submit coverage data to the Commission to challenge the accuracy of—</text>
<clause id="H1362029A6CDA49C38998E643407EE0AE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the coverage maps;</text> </clause><clause id="HCC59DF542F604304853B13583F4CA852"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any information submitted by a provider regarding the availability of broadband internet access service; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HAA446486B3BC41B8A941B65C0B2ED3FF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the information included in the Fabric.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H78EAC4B767B14A45AD678017448398F0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Considerations; verification; response to challenges</header><text>In establishing the challenge process required under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall—</text>
<clause id="H548C382B08D148B69B462B93AD6BECA0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>consider—</text> <subclause id="H712CC09B96D64D1BB4E106CA3D2D5928"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the types of information that an entity or person submitting a challenge should provide to the Commission in support of the challenge;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HB14EA091779D4AE8AF2F4096CD710339"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the appropriate level of granularity for the information described in subclause (I);</text> </subclause><subclause id="H5D353B93A74D4375869C9CD7E8DD4046"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the need to mitigate the time and expense incurred by, and the administrative burdens placed on, entities or persons in—</text>
<item id="H57E6BF37EEBF4DFCA6ABBA01C64676EA"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>challenging the accuracy of a coverage map; and</text> </item><item id="HF362B516E36B48EF8BD6FBBBE8E63E61"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>responding to challenges described in item (aa);</text>
</item></subclause><subclause id="H256C03ABFAE94744979EE12C02B9ED66"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the costs to consumers and providers resulting from a misallocation of funds because of a reliance on outdated or otherwise inaccurate information in the coverage maps;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HEC036F5B201244479AEDCF31B883DBE3"><enum>(V)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any lessons learned from the challenge process established under Mobility Fund Phase II, as determined from comments solicited by the Commission; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HB1C6C2194F734C0EADE2BCE70D59CE7E"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>the need for user-friendly challenge submission formats that will promote participation in the challenge process;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H25BA98E55EDD42F99251FC5E83B1CCAB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>include a process for verifying the data submitted through the challenge process in order to ensure the reliability of that data;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE07891C0CEFC47BBBC7DBA2694C0AEA8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>allow providers to respond to challenges submitted through the challenge process; and</text> </clause><clause id="HEA69DDE4F5D2459C8D98852CE2C6B076"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>develop an online mechanism, which—</text>
<subclause id="H8C58B743BA4A405397DE45F87F39AD6E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>shall be integrated into the coverage maps;</text> </subclause><subclause id="HA4B5C4ED46D14C06B127969514513D90"><enum>(II)</enum><text>allows for an entity or person described in subparagraph (A) to submit a challenge under the challenge process;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H45C1CEB0A3D1406C8DAB7A9DE7288025"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">makes challenge data available in both geographic information system and non-geographic information system formats; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H0AEE3F0BCA4646E692B3D3E60DF1E78A"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>clearly identifies the areas in which broadband internet access service is available, and the upload and download speeds at which that service is available, as reported to the Commission under this section.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDFA6968EEA5F4911983F3A480B3E17DB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Use of challenges</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The rules issued to establish the challenge process under subparagraph (A) shall include—</text> <clause id="H3A0E0CAE4A314E6F91F8352AF9ED631B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a process for the speedy resolution of challenges; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2A021053E96E4BEE9F9E342C65B636C8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a process for the regular and expeditious updating of the coverage maps and granular data the Commission disseminates as challenges are resolved.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5CB2A09679184B4D883E0BC138BF0732"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Automation tool</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not earlier than 1 year after, and not later than 18 months after, the rules issued under subsection (a)(1) are implemented, the Commission shall, after an opportunity for notice and comment, submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that—</text>
<clause id="H99208D83DA474F6BAAA127E45D2D2079"><enum>(i)</enum><text>evaluates the challenge process; and</text> </clause><clause id="HCDA1A392ACB444F0888477B448CE8216"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>considers whether the Commission should amend its rules to create an automated tool that includes predictive capabilities to identify potential inaccuracies and features that allow a provider of broadband internet access service, the Commission, and the public to visualize the data relating to broadband internet access service that the provider reports in order to improve the accuracy of the data submitted by the provider.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H76306733243246E5A89E64D22FA083A9"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Reform of form 477 process</header>
<subparagraph id="H716FDC8C4E264C12801F17AC2B709FE9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date on which the rules issued under subsection (a)(1) take effect, the Commission shall—</text>
<clause id="H8E1B9B4586A84C92A8C08C20CABC049F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reform the Form 477 broadband deployment service availability collection process of the Commission to achieve the purposes of this title and in a manner that enables the comparison of data and maps produced before the implementation of this title with data and coverage maps produced after the implementation of this title and maintains the public availability of broadband deployment service availability data; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H3DD8BF1E9CEC496DABCDB99FFF5AF020"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>harmonize reporting requirements and procedures regarding the deployment of broadband internet access service that, as of the date on which the rules issued under subsection (a)(1) take effect, are in effect.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H856A93AC99844EF59787ED4C3BB72DD8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Continued collection and reporting</header><text>On and after the date on which the Commission carries out subparagraph (A), the Commission shall continue to collect and publicly report subscription data that the Commission collected through the Form 477 broadband deployment service availability collection process, as in effect on July 1, 2019.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H392517B05EE148E2A25699F773561CEC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Maps</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall—</text> <paragraph id="H2BF700267B204B059798774B96F79830"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">after consulting with the Federal Geographic Data Committee established by section 753(a) of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/2802">43 U.S.C. 2802(a)</external-xref>), create—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE606AAEA50BF4932881306F5827E241C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Broadband Map, which shall depict—</text> <clause id="HEAA3BE1A95D740CB9B5640AE86FF3082"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the extent of the availability of broadband internet access service in the United States, without regard to whether that service is fixed broadband internet access service or mobile broadband internet access service, which shall be based on data collected by the Commission from all providers; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0F92A04B9F8C4A16A2345A06E97CCAD3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the areas of the United States that remain unserved by providers;</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H64FF05FC635145DF92308C5096F4CB7F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a map that depicts the availability of fixed broadband internet access service, which shall be based on data collected by the Commission from providers under subsection (b)(2)(A); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE607F16470064F379BA22FF016B96D9F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a map that depicts the availability of mobile broadband internet access service, which shall be based on data collected by the Commission from providers under subsection (b)(2)(B);</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H47A653BA50A74625993B311B095C0104"><enum>(2)</enum><text>use the maps created under paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph id="HF0189A3124B34ACDB3AE6ABB3CDC2D24"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to determine the areas in which terrestrial fixed, fixed wireless, mobile, and satellite broadband internet access service is and is not available; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H928ABF0F67214416BCD038697C48C734"><enum>(B)</enum><text>when making any new award of funding with respect to the deployment of broadband internet access service;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H184029A3789F4E55A7DAB66C69E47DA8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>update the maps created under paragraph (1) not less frequently than biannually using the most recent data collected from providers under subsection (b)(2);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H271237B2EB2E43C59B7F4FEAF69E5953"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make available to all Federal agencies, upon request, the maps created under paragraph (1);</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H78F38A1E751D447FB1F7D919AF872387"><enum>(5)</enum><text>establish a process to make the data collected under subsection (b)(2) available to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3F30CF355D3147C0BEECEA16D70D891F"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make public at an appropriate level of granularity—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H066000D842E34A6E9D7751C0DD8C78F9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the maps created under paragraph (1); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF96A99F453FB4F8F9648A37A2B2E9D3F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the data collected by the Commission with respect to broadband internet access service availability and quality of service.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H75AE3DFD35384549A8FCA45E11914C0E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Delayed effective date of quality of service rules</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any requirement of a rule relating to quality of service issued under subsection (a)(1) shall take effect not earlier than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Commission issues such rule.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H41DB722D0A4E4DB6AF0D0FCB7523AEA5"><enum>803.</enum><header>Improving data accuracy</header>
<subsection id="H5BD261577DF34720BC4923E5FC984D60"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Audits</header><text>The Commission shall conduct regular audits of information submitted to the Commission by providers under section 802(b)(2) to ensure that the providers are complying with this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0539F595710E45A291D4091A0E45A573"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Crowdsourcing</header>
<paragraph id="HEEF3FA6DD81D401F94A8211C50315465"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Commission shall—</text> <subparagraph id="H94EB6A2C5FC2448686E57F9AE111E26A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop a process through which entities or persons in the United States may submit specific information about the deployment and availability of broadband internet access service in the United States on an ongoing basis so that the information may be used to verify and supplement information provided by providers of broadband internet access service for inclusion in the maps created under section 802(c)(1); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD05C93C744A34C0EA62EB6E689EB5E86"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">update the maps created under section 802(c)(1) on no less than an annual cycle based on the information received through such process.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC05F52722ECC4FA1A3C6C5952122CE1E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Collaboration</header><text>As part of the efforts of the Commission to facilitate the ability of entities or persons to submit information under paragraph (1), the Commission shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H34B128E0182848BDA61A4B3F54737070"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">prioritize the consideration of data provided by data collection applications used by consumers that the Commission has determined—</text>
<clause id="H955D8453218E43AF86AAEEB5A4A6E706"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are highly reliable; and</text> </clause><clause id="H2E3172FF61004ABB9CDF93730CB081F2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>have proven methodologies for determining network coverage and network performance; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H45B37013FB3A4A69BC2B1EC5051C33BF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>coordinate with the Postmaster General, or the heads of other Federal agencies that operate delivery fleet vehicles, to facilitate the submission of specific information by the United States Postal Service or such other agencies under paragraph (1).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H86218782366841FAB1D1B6BFAF3B4FB1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical assistance to Indian Tribes</header>
<paragraph id="H8056F3916E074F8DBCFF062639B4040A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission shall hold annual workshops for Tribal governments to provide technical assistance with the collection and submission of data under section 802(a)(2)(A).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA0AA12A23DC346AD9A8EFBDB033C90F7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual review</header><text>Each year, the Commission, in consultation with Indian Tribes, shall review the need for continued workshops required under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H688BE6E6F58B48B68C34F6FC8BDC60DD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Technical assistance to small service providers</header><text>The Commission shall establish a process through which a provider that has fewer than 100,000 active broadband internet access service connections may request and receive assistance from the Commission with respect to geographic information system data processing to ensure that the provider is able to comply with the rules issued under section 802(a)(1) in a timely and accurate manner.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H80559BFF0DEA40A484B0E9387B2BA797"><enum>(e)</enum><header>GAO assessment of Fabric source data</header>
<paragraph id="H531EF75E461F42E2BB40BA236C42D320"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Assessment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an assessment of key data sources that are used for purposes of the Fabric to identify and geocode locations where fixed broadband internet access service can be installed, in order to develop recommendations for how the quality and completeness of such data sources can be improved as data sources for the Fabric. Data sources to be assessed shall include any sources of relevant Federal data, including the National Address Database administered by the Department of Transportation, State- and county-level digitized parcel data, and property tax record tax attribute recording.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCA3BCAB9B4E941098EECDAB4C53198F7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this title, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the recommendations developed in the assessment under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6DA6B446B9F2468C942FCF1D602B879D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Technical assistance to consumers and State, local, and Tribal governmental entities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall provide technical assistance to consumers and State, local, and Tribal governmental entities with respect to the challenge process established under section 802(b)(5), which shall include—</text>
<paragraph id="HBD7F6EE57233462CAA0920F7D16CFB74"><enum>(1)</enum><text>detailed tutorials and webinars; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7A1E694914674345BA22E16E1501DDEE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>making available staff of the Commission to provide assistance, as needed, throughout the entirety of the challenge process.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H2BD8E6AE60534072A422356F06668E15"><enum>804.</enum><header>Cost</header>
<subsection id="H38B3E45D59A54261AE1E6EBB28C9F30F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission may not use funds from the universal service programs of the Commission established under section 254, and the regulations issued under that section, to carry out this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H81E2153DD096468984CAFB48AB193B76"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission to carry out this title—</text> <paragraph id="H43C2FA6616C040F4BA3E717AB0A87B17"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB0D9F9A4712F4AA090830B1556D8548C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$9,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2028.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H0FFA18CDC6B44BF9959DA65575AB985D"><enum>805.</enum><header>Other provisions</header> <subsection id="H66A54A738C504EAEB9D09BA37D70784F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>OMB</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the initial rulemaking required under section 802(a)(1) shall be exempt from review by the Office of Management and Budget.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6AB350507074478BA406EE5C7307491F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>PRA</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">Chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Paperwork Reduction Act</quote>) shall not apply to the initial rulemaking required under section 802(a)(1).</text> </subsection><subsection id="H8F54E7E26CE0431EAE7E568F05FEDDBE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Execution of responsibilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except, with respect to an entity that is not the Universal Service Administrative Company, as provided in sections 802(a)(2)(B), 802(b)(1)(A)(ii), and 803(d), the Commission—</text>
<paragraph id="HAF34F4EE1976403C9E727328DEED8992"><enum>(1)</enum><text>including the offices of the Commission, shall carry out the responsibilities assigned to the Commission under this title; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H27BF57E7C3B54DB9825213CF7053096A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may not delegate any of the responsibilities assigned to the Commission under this title to any third party, including the Universal Service Administrative Company.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H41E499E7FC16446D936C91AAD16B1572"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>Each fiscal year, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that summarizes the implementation of this title and associated enforcement activities conducted during the previous fiscal year.</text></subsection></section>.
Passed the House of Representatives December 16, 2019.Cheryl L. Johnson,Clerk
December 17, 2019Received; read twice and placed on the calendar