3.0.0 3152 2023-01-11T13:30:27Z 2023-01-11T13:30:27Z House HR 2015-07-22 114 [Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. NOLAN:H.R. 3152.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:clause 18 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution.[Page H5403]]]> hsag00 Agriculture Committee House Standing hsag22 Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee Referred to 2015-08-06T15:03:14Z Referred to 2015-07-22T14:01:45Z hsif00 Energy and Commerce Committee House Standing hsif16 Communications and Technology Subcommittee Referred to 2015-07-24T18:25:26Z Referred to 2015-07-22T14:01:50Z 2015-08-06 hsag22 Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit. Committee 2015-07-24 hsif16 Communications and Technology Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Committee 2015-07-22 Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsif00 Energy and Commerce Committee 2015-07-22 Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. IntroReferral H11100-A 9 Library of Congress 2015-07-22 Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsag00 Agriculture Committee 2015-07-22 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2015-07-22 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress N000127 Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8] RICHARD NOLAN D MN 8 N H001068 Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] Jared Huffman D CA 2 2016-01-05 False P000607 Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] Mark Pocan D WI 2 2016-02-12 False Science, Technology, Communications Advisory bodies Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies Congressional oversight Department of Agriculture Executive agency funding and structure Government information and archives Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Public-private cooperation Rural conditions and development Science, Technology, Communications 00 2015-07-22 Introduced in House 2017-05-03T18:41:01Z Rural Broadband Initiative Act

This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and an Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives appointed by the President to head the Office.

The Under Secretary is responsible for administering all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service and must:

  • conduct nationwide outreach to rural areas;
  • foster the development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision;
  • plan coordination of federal resources for state, regional, and local governments to assist rural areas;
  • assess all relevant technologies;
  • serve as a single information source for and coordinate all federal rural broadband programs and services; and
  • provide technical assistance to state, regional, and local governments.

The Under Secretary must also:

  • submit to the President and Congress a comprehensive rural broadband strategy;
  • submit to Congress a plan to establish a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel;
  • establish a web-based clearinghouse that describes options, opportunities, resources, successful public-private partnerships, funding sources, and technology tutorials; and
  • revise the rules and qualification criteria for the loan and loan guarantee programs.

USDA must report to Congress on the resources and staff necessary to carry out this bill, and the Government Accountability Office must review the report.

]]> Rural Broadband Initiative Act Display Title Rural Broadband Initiative Act Official Title as Introduced To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. Introduced in House IH Short Titles as Introduced Rural Broadband Initiative Act Introduced in House 2015-07-22T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr3152ih/xml/BILLS-114hr3152ih.xml 2015-08-06 Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit. text/xml 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. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.