[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5602 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5602

      To create a Rural Issues Advisory Board within the Federal 
    Communications Commission, to assist the Federal Communications 
 Commission in developing policies and procedures, and to ensure that 
 the Commission takes into account the size and resources of affected 
                       parties in rural America.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 10, 2002

   Mr. Terry (for himself, Mr. Luther, Mr. Shimkus, and Mr. Jenkins) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 
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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To create a Rural Issues Advisory Board within the Federal 
    Communications Commission, to assist the Federal Communications 
 Commission in developing policies and procedures, and to ensure that 
 the Commission takes into account the size and resources of affected 
                       parties in rural America.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Issues 
Advisory Board Act of 2002''.
    (b) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Rural telephone company.--The term ``rural telephone 
        company'' has the meaning provided in section 3 of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
            (2) Rural wireless carrier.--The term ``rural wireless 
        carrier'' means any provider of commercial mobile services (as 
        such term is defined in section 332(d) of such Act) that, 
        together with all affiliates of such provider, has fewer than 1 
        percent of the Nation's subscribers to such service in the 
        aggregate nationwide.
            (3) Emergency.--The term ``emergency'' means an unexpected 
        and sudden development that has severely impacted or could 
        severely impact the ability of consumers to receive quality and 
        affordable telecommunications services and which requires 
        immediate action by the Commission.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Rural telephone companies fulfill a unique function 
        beneficial to the public interest and national economy by 
        providing a full range of vital services to consumers in rural 
        and insular areas where the costs of providing service is much 
        higher than in other areas.
            (2) Rural telephone companies operate under circumstances 
        that are markedly different from those of large carriers. These 
        differences include, but are not limited to, factors such as 
        much lower population density in their service areas, higher 
        local line costs, higher switching costs, lower average income 
        levels in their service areas, a lower proportion of business 
        customers compared to residential customers, and considerably 
        smaller local calling areas which impels more toll calls. 
        Although rural telephone companies serve fewer than eight 
        percent of the Nation's access lines, their service area covers 
        38 percent of the Nation's land mass.
            (3) Despite these and other differences between rural 
        telephone companies and large telephone companies, as well as 
        among rural telephone companies operating under highly varied 
        circumstances, and in spite of the critical and unique role 
        fulfilled by rural telephone companies, the Federal 
        Communications Commission often fails to adequately account 
        for, and defer to, these facts.
            (4) As a result of this disregard, rural telephone 
        companies must face government-imposed challenges in addition 
        to the already difficult conditions they must overcome to 
        provide basic and advanced services to rural consumers.
            (5) Rural telephone companies must also now contend with 
        regulatory policies designed to artificially induce 
        competition. Such policies discourage rural telephone companies 
        from investing in their networks due to the fact that any 
        increase in the rural telephone company's investment only 
        increases the amount of high-cost support a new entrant may 
        receive, with no requirement that the new entrant make similar 
        upfront investments or undertake similar network upgrades. 
        Consequently, rural consumers must contend with the higher 
        costs and lower quality of services available brought about by 
        the introduction of artificial competition into areas that 
        cannot naturally support multiple carriers.
            (6) The Federal Communications Commission has failed to 
        adhere to the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended, 
        and has at times refused to do so. The agency charged with 
        monitoring compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act has 
        repeatedly attempted to correct this situation, observing on 
        December 12, 2001, that the Federal Communications Commission 
        was ``in effect abdicating its responsibility'' under the law.
            (7) In order to preserve and advance universal service, and 
        encourage the deployment of advanced services as called for in 
        section 254 and 706 respectively, the Federal Communications 
        Commission must more fully consider the impacts its decisions 
        have on rural telephone companies and their customers, as well 
        as comply with the spirit and letter of the Regulatory 
        Flexibility Act of 1980 as amended.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RURAL ISSUES ADVISORY BOARD.

    There is established within the Federal Communications Commission a 
Rural Issues Advisory Board (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Board'').

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Board shall be composed of 5 
members, selected by the President, as follows:
            (1) 4 members shall be selected from companies who are 
        rural telephone companies; and
            (2) 1 member shall be selected from companies who are rural 
        wireless carriers.
    (b) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each 
        member shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.
            (2) Terms of initial appointees.--As designated by the 
        President at the time of appointment, of the members first 
        appointed--
                    (A) 1 member shall be appointed for a term of 1 
                year;
                    (B) 2 members shall be appointed for terms of 2 
                years; and
                    (C) 2 members shall be appointed for terms of 3 
                years.
            (3) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
        occurring before the expiration of the term for which the 
        member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for 
        the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the 
        expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken 
        office. A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in the manner in 
        which the original appointment was made.
    (c) Chair.--The Chair of the Board shall be elected by the members. 
The term of office of the Chair shall be 3 years.
    (d) Meetings.--
            (1) The Board shall meet in person at a minimum of once per 
        calendar quarter. Additional meetings may be held at the 
        discretion of the Board.
            (2) The Board members may meet by means of conference calls 
        and video conferencing or other telecommunications device for 
        the purpose of nonquarterly meetings.
            (3) The nonquarterly meetings of the Board, if held in 
        person, shall be required to be open to the public. Any other 
        nonquarterly meeting shall not be required to be open to the 
        public. The minutes of all nonquarterly Board meetings shall be 
        available to the public no later than 48 hours after the 
        conclusion of each meeting. The minutes of each meeting shall 
        also be made available by being posted on the Federal 
        Communications Commission's Web site.
    (e) Quarterly Meetings.--
            (1) The quarterly meetings of the Board shall not be 
        required to be in Washington, D.C.
            (2) The quarterly meetings of the Board shall be open to 
        the public and the minutes of these meetings shall be available 
        to the public no later than 48 hours after the conclusion of 
        each meeting. The minutes of each meeting shall also be made 
        available by being posted on the Federal Communications 
        Commission's Web site.
            (3) The Board shall publish in the Federal Register, notice 
        of the quarterly meeting no fewer than 30 days prior to the 
        meeting.
    (f) Compensation.--
            (1) Service without pay.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), members of the Board shall serve without pay.
            (2) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Board shall 
        receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under 
        subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
    (g) Financial Authority of Chair.--The Chair of the Board shall be 
in control of funds appropriated to carry out this Act to compensate 
staff, all related expenses, and any other costs related to the Board 
or its staff's official business.
    (h) Rules and Procedures.--The Board shall establish rules for its 
procedures.
    (i) Responsiveness to Congress.--The Board shall keep the Congress 
and congressional committees fully and currently informed of the major 
activities of the Board.

SEC. 5. STAFF.

    (a) Location.--The Federal Communications Commission shall provide 
suitable space to the Board for the location of the Board's staff at 
the headquarters of the Commission.
    (b) Number and Pay of Staff.--For purposes of carrying out the 
responsibilities of the Board, the Board may employ personnel with a 
rate of pay not to exceed GS-15 of the General Schedule.
    (c) Exemption From Civil Service Laws.--The employment and 
compensation of personnel under this section may be made without regard 
to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
appointments in the civil service and without regard to the provisions 
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating 
to the classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates.

SEC. 6. OFFICIAL DUTIES OF THE BOARD AND ITS STAFF.

    (a) Advice to Commission.--The Board and its staff shall advise the 
Commission on the impact of its decisions on markets and customers in 
rural America.
    (b) Rural Impact Analyses.--
            (1) The Board may make a rural impact analysis (as defined 
        in section 7) of any rule, order, or other decision of the 
        Commission.
            (2) The Board and its staff will have sole discretion to 
        decide which rules, orders, and decisions on which the Board 
        wishes to make a rural impact analysis. The Board will make the 
        determination of whether or not to do a rural impact analysis 
        by a majority vote of the Board members.
            (3) Except as provided in section 4(h), the Board shall be 
        prohibited from issuing any rules or regulations.
    (c) Other Information on Impacts to Commission.--The Board, and its 
staff, may develop advisory opinions, comments, and reports to advance 
the commitment of the Federal Government to universal service, and to 
improve access to advanced services and information services, in rural 
America, and to submit such advisory opinions, comments, and reports to 
the Commission.
    (d) Advice to Other Agencies.--The Board, and its staff, may 
develop advisory opinions, comments, and reports for other departments 
and agencies of the Federal Government to advance the commitment of the 
Federal Government to universal service, and to access to advanced 
services and information services in rural America, and to submit such 
advisory opinions, comments, and reports to other departments and 
agencies of the Federal Government.
    (e) Clearinghouse Functions.--The Board, and its staff, shall serve 
as a point of review for complaints, criticisms, and suggestions 
concerning policies and activities of the Commission, and of any other 
department or agency of the Federal Government, which affect the 
receipt of telecommunications services (including information services 
and advanced services) in rural America.
    (f) Analysis of Commission Review.--The Board shall do an analysis 
of the Commission's biennial review of the status of telecommunications 
in rural America (as defined in section 8) within 90 days of the 
Commission's submittal of this report to Congress.
    (g) General Administrative Authority.--
            (1) Experts.--The Chair of the Board may procure temporary 
        and intermittent services to the extent authorized by section 
        3109 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of the 
        activities of the Board under this section.
            (2) Consultation.--The Board, and its staff, may consult 
        with individuals and entities including Federal, State, and 
        local governmental departments and agencies, rural telephone 
        companies, rural wireless carriers, organizations representing 
        rural telephone companies and rural wireless carriers and 
        organizations representing rural consumers, possessing such 
        expertise as the Board considers appropriate for purposes of 
        the activities of the Board under this section.

SEC. 7. RURAL IMPACT ANALYSIS.

    (a) Description of Rural Impact Analysis.--
            (1) The rural impact analysis is a document that shall be 
        submitted to the Chairman and members of the Commission, the 
        relevant Bureau chiefs, and other relevant Federal 
        Communications Commission staff.
            (2) The rural impact analysis shall be submitted in a 
        manner that will not unduly delay any Commission rulemaking or 
        other Commission proceeding.
            (3) Until the Commission receives a rural impact analysis, 
        the Commission may not finalize or adopt any rulemaking or 
        other Commission proceeding when the Commission knows, or 
        should know, that the Board is, or will be, submitting a rural 
        impact analysis.
            (4) The final rural impact analysis shall be submitted 
        within 20 business days prior to the Commission's consideration 
        of a final rule.
            (5) The Commission shall review any rural impact analysis 
        submitted by the Board in a timely manner. The Commission's 
        review shall not unduly delay any Commission rulemaking or 
        other Commission proceeding.
            (6) If the Commission rejects the findings in the rural 
        impact analysis in the final Commission's rulemaking or other 
        Commission proceeding, then the Commission shall state specific 
        justifications as to why the rural impact analysis was 
        rejected. The Commission shall issue a statement of the 
        specific factual, policy, or legal reasons for selecting the 
        alternative adopted in the final rule, order, or other decision 
        and why each one of the other significant alternatives to the 
        rule considered by the Commission, as raised in the rural 
        impact analysis, which affect the impact on rural telephone 
        companies and rural wireless carriers was rejected.
            (7) The rural impact analysis is considered submitted for 
        purposes of this subsection when the Board publishes the rural 
        impact analysis in the Federal Register.
    (b) Initial Rural Impact Analysis.--
            (1) The initial rural impact analysis shall describe the 
        impact of the proposed rule on rural telephone companies and 
        rural wireless carriers.
            (2) Each initial rural impact analysis required under this 
        section shall contain--
                    (A) a description of the reasons why action by the 
                agency that may affect rural telephone companies and 
                rural wireless carriers is being considered;
                    (B) a succinct statement of the objectives of, and 
                legal basis for, the proposed rule;
                    (C) a description of and, where feasible, an 
                estimate of the number of rural telephone companies and 
                rural wireless carriers to which the proposed rule will 
                apply;
                    (D) a description of any potential impacts the 
                proposed rule may have on the preservation and 
                advancement of universal service as outlined in section 
                254 of the Communications Act of 1934, and the ability 
                of rural telephone companies to continue fulfilling 
                their carrier-of-last-resort obligations in high-cost, 
                insular, and rural areas;
                    (E) a description of any potential impacts the 
                proposed rule may have on the ability of rural 
                telephone companies and rural wireless carriers to 
                deploy advanced services as outlined in section 706 of 
                such Act; and
                    (F) a description of any reporting, recordkeeping, 
                and other compliance requirements of the proposed rule 
                that may apply to rural telephone companies and rural 
                wireless carriers, including the type of professional 
                skills necessary for preparation of the report or 
                record, and a detailed, specific explanation of how the 
                attendant expenses are appropriate or inappropriate for 
                rural telephone companies and rural wireless carriers.
            (3) Each initial rural impact analysis shall also contain a 
        description of specific considerations the Commission should 
        give to the differing circumstances experienced by rural 
        telephone companies and rural wireless carriers, and specific 
        steps the Commission should take to account for and defer to 
        these differences.
            (4) Each initial rural impact analysis shall also contain a 
        detailed description of any specific significant alternatives 
        to the proposed rule the Commission should consider, which 
        would accomplish the stated objectives of applicable statutes 
        and which minimize any significant economic impact of the 
        proposed rule on rural telephone companies and rural wireless 
        carriers. The Commission cannot rely solely on public comments 
        to suggest alternatives, although such comments shall be 
        considered throughout the proceeding. Consistent with the 
        stated objectives of applicable statutes, the initial rural 
        impact analysis shall discuss specific significant alternatives 
        which must be explicitly considered by the Commission, 
        including (but not limited to)--
                    (A) the establishment of differing compliance or 
                reporting requirements or timetables that take into 
                account the limited resources available to rural 
                telephone companies and rural wireless carriers and 
                other mitigating factors;
                    (B) the clarification, consolidation, or 
                simplification of compliance and reporting requirements 
                under the rule for rural telephone companies and rural 
                wireless carriers;
                    (C) the use of performance rather than design 
                standards; and
                    (D) an exemption from coverage of the rule, or any 
                part thereof, for rural telephone companies and rural 
                wireless carriers.
            (5) The initial rural impact analysis shall be submitted to 
        the Chairman and members of the Commission, the relevant Bureau 
        chiefs, and other relevant Federal Communications Commission 
        staff.  The initial rural impact analysis shall be submitted 
after the comment period has ended but before the Commission has 
adopted its final rule or procedure. The Commission and all relevant 
parties are deemed to have been notified of the release of the initial 
rural impact analysis when it is published in the Federal Register.
    (c) Final Rural Impact Analysis.--
            (1) When the Commission promulgates a final rule, the Board 
        shall prepare a final rural impact analysis. Each final rural 
        impact analysis shall contain--
                    (A) a succinct statement of the need for, and 
                objectives of, the rule;
                    (B) a summary of the significant issues raised by 
                the public comments, a summary of the assessment of the 
                Commission of such issues, a summary of any assessment 
                of the Board, and a statement of any changes made in 
                the proposed rule as a result of such comments and 
                assessments;
                    (C) a description of and, where feasible, an 
                estimate of the number of rural telephone companies and 
                rural wireless carriers to which the proposed rule will 
                apply;
                    (D) a description of any potential impacts the 
                proposed rule may have on the preservation and 
                advancement of universal service as outlined in section 
                254 of the Communications Act of 1934, and the ability 
                of rural telephone companies to continue fulfilling 
                their carrier of last resort obligations in high-cost, 
                insular, and rural areas;
                    (E) a description of any potential impacts the 
                proposed rule may have on the ability of rural 
                telephone companies and rural wireless carriers to 
                deploy advanced services as outlined in section 706 of 
                such Act;
                    (F) a description of any reporting, recordkeeping, 
                and other compliance requirements of the proposed rule 
                that may apply to rural telephone companies and rural 
                wireless carriers, including the type of professional 
                skills necessary for preparation of the report or 
                record, and a detailed, specific explanation of why the 
                attendant expenses are appropriate for rural telephone 
                companies and rural wireless carriers; and
                    (G) a description of the specific steps the 
                Commission has taken to minimize the economic impact on 
                rural telephone companies and rural wireless carriers 
                consistent with the stated objectives of applicable 
                statutes.
            (2) The Commission shall make copies of the final rural 
        impact analysis available to members of the public and shall 
        publish in the Federal Register such analysis or a summary 
        thereof.
    (d) Avoidance of Unnecessary Analyses.--Subsections (b) and (c) 
shall not apply to any proposed or final rule if the Chair of the Board 
certifies (based on a majority vote by the Board members) that the rule 
will not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on rural 
telephone companies and rural wireless carriers or their ability to 
provide service. If the Chair of the Board makes a certification under 
the preceding sentence, the Board shall publish such certification in 
the Federal Register within 15 working days of the publication of 
general notice of proposed rulemaking for the rule or at the time of 
publication of the final rule, along with a statement providing the 
factual basis for such certification. The Board shall provide such 
certification and statement to the Commission.
    (e) Review of Initial Rural Impact Analyses.--If the Board deems 
that any initial rural impact analysis is inadequate, flawed, or 
otherwise questionable, the Board may at its sole discretion review and 
revise the Board's initial rural impact analysis. The Board has 15 days 
after the initial rural impact analysis is published in the Federal 
Register to review and comment on the initial rural impact analysis. 
Such a review must address any and all issues raised by the Board, 
either through a thorough justification of the relevant portion or 
portions of the review, or by adjusting the review or its attending 
notice, proposal, or rule, or by a combination of such actions. The 
Board shall describe any shortcomings or clarifications that the 
Commission shall address.
    (f) Preparation of Analyses.--In complying with the provisions of 
this Act, the Board may provide either a quantifiable or numerical 
description of the effects of a proposed rule or alternatives to the 
proposed rule. More general descriptive statements if quantification is 
not practicable or reliable, is permitted but shall be as specific as 
possible.
    (g) Procedure for Waiver or Delay of Completion.--The Chairman of 
the Commission may delay the review of the rural impact analysis by 
publishing in the Federal Register, not later than the date of 
publication of the final rule, a written finding, with reasons 
therefore, that the final rule is being promulgated in response to an 
emergency that makes compliance or timely compliance with the review of 
the initial rural impact analysis impracticable. If any such review is 
so delayed, the Commission shall adopt a modification to the final rule 
within 30 days of its publication, which reflects its review of the 
rural impact analysis.
    (h) Procedures for Gathering Comments.--When any rule is 
promulgated which will have a significant impact on rural telephone 
companies and rural wireless carriers, the Chairman of the Commission, 
or an official with statutory responsibility for the promulgation of 
the rule, shall assure that rural telephone companies and rural 
wireless carriers have been given an opportunity to participate in the 
rulemaking for the rule through the reasonable use of techniques such 
as--
            (1) the inclusion in an advanced notice of proposed 
        rulemaking, if issued, of a statement that the proposed rule 
        may have a significant economic effect on a substantial number 
        of rural telephone companies and rural wireless carriers;
            (2) the publication of general notice of proposed 
        rulemaking in publications likely to be obtained by rural 
        telephone companies and rural wireless carriers;
            (3) the direct notification of interested rural telephone 
        companies and rural wireless carriers and their 
        representatives;
            (4) the conduct of open conferences or public hearings 
        concerning the rule for rural telephone companies and rural 
        wireless carriers including soliciting and receiving comments 
        over computer networks;
            (5) the adoption or modification of agency procedural rules 
        to reduce the cost or complexity of participation in the 
        rulemaking by rural telephone companies and rural wireless 
        carriers; and
            (6) a thorough review of the Board's initial rural impact 
        analysis.
    (i) Judicial Review.--
            (1)(A) For any rule subject to the requirements of this 
        section, a rural telephone company or rural wireless carrier 
        that is adversely affected or aggrieved by final Commission 
        action is entitled to judicial review of Commission compliance 
        with such requirements.
            (B) Each court having jurisdiction to review such rule for 
        compliance shall have jurisdiction to review any claims of 
        noncompliance with the requirements of this section.
            (C)(i) A rural telephone company or rural wireless carrier 
        may seek such review during the period beginning on the date of 
        final Commission action and ending 60 days later.
            (ii) In any case where the Commission waives or delays 
        review of a rural impact analysis, an action for judicial 
        review under this section shall be filed not later than 60 days 
        after the date the analysis is made available to the public, 
        pursuant to subsection (c)(2).
            (D) In granting any relief in an action under this section, 
        the court shall order the Commission to take corrective action, 
        including (but not limited to)--
                    (i) remanding the rule to the Commission; and
                    (ii) deferring the enforcement of the rule against 
                rural telephone companies and rural wireless carriers 
                unless the court finds that continued enforcement of 
                the rule is in the public interest.
            (E) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit 
        the authority of any court to stay the effective date of any 
        rule or provision thereof under any other provision of law or 
        to grant any other relief in addition to the requirements of 
        this section.
            (2) In an action for the judicial review of a rule, the 
        rural impact analysis for such rule, including an analysis 
        prepared or corrected pursuant to paragraph (1)(D), shall 
        constitute part of the entire record of Commission action in 
        connection with such review.
            (3) Compliance or noncompliance by the Commission with the 
        provisions of this section shall be subject to judicial review 
        only in accordance with this section.
            (4) Nothing in this section bars judicial review of any 
        other impact statement or similar analysis required by any 
        other law if judicial review of such statement or analysis is 
        otherwise permitted by law.

SEC. 8. ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.

    (a) Biennial Review.--The Commission shall issue a biennial review 
to Congress evaluating--
            (1) the Commission's progress on measuring the costs and 
        other effects of regulations of the Commission on rural 
        telephone companies and rural wireless carriers; and
            (2) the capability of telecommunications carriers in rural 
        America to provide quality telecommunications services 
        (including information services and advanced services) at 
        affordable rates in rural America, in keeping with the 
        requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (Public Law 104-
        121).
    (b) Status of Telecommunications in Rural America.--Within this 
biennial review, the Commission shall report on the status of 
telecommunications in rural America. Such report shall include (but is 
not limited to) the following:
            (1) Universal service.
            (2) Advanced services.
            (3) Competition in rural areas.
            (4) Regulatory burdens facing rural telecommunications 
        carriers.
    (c) Copies of Comments.--The Secretary of the Commission shall 
transmit to the Board a copy of all comments filed at the Commission in 
those dockets on which the Board has determined to prepare a rural 
impact analysis.

SEC. 9. SUBMITTAL OF REPORTS.

    (a) Direct Submittal.--The Board shall not be required to submit 
any report under this Act to any department or agency of the Federal 
Government (including the Office of Management and Budget or the 
Commission) before its submittal under a provision of this section.
    (b) Direct Submittal.--The Commission shall not be required to 
submit any report under this Act to any department or agency of the 
Federal Government (including the Office of Management and Budget) 
before its submittal under a provision of this section.

SEC. 10. CONSTRUCTION OF BOARD.

    The establishment of the Board may not be construed as modifying in 
any way the responsibilities of the Chairman of the Commission, the 
Commission, or other offices, bureaus, or divisions of the Commission 
to address the effects of the rules and regulations of the Commission 
on the provision of quality telecommunications services (including 
information services and advanced services) at just, reasonable, and 
affordable rates in and throughout rural America.

SEC. 11. BUDGET FORMAT.

    The budget of the President for a fiscal year, as submitted to 
Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, shall 
specify as a separate request amounts requested for such year for the 
Board of the Commission.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Rural Issues Advisory 
Board to carry out its activities under this Act $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2003 through 2007.
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