I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3646 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 24, 2009 Ms. Matsui introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a Lifeline Assistance Program for universal broadband adoption, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Broadband Affordability Act of 2009.

2.

Broadband Lifeline Assistance Program

Section 254(j) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(j)) is amended— (1)by striking (j) Lifeline Assistance.—Nothing in this and inserting the following: (j)

Lifeline Assistance

(1)

In general

Nothing in this ; and (2)by adding at the end the following: (2)

Broadband Lifeline Assistance Program

(A)

Purpose

The purpose of this paragraph is to promote the adoption of broadband service by all people of the United States while recognizing that the price of broadband service is a barrier to adoption for low income households. (B)

In general

Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of the Broadband Affordability Act of 2009, the Commission shall take all actions necessary to establish a broadband lifeline program that enables qualifying low-income customers residing in urban and rural areas to purchase broadband service at reduced charges by reimbursing providers for each such customer served. Such broadband lifeline program shall be similar in structure to the Lifeline program for basic telephone service under subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations. (C)

State matching funds

In recognition of the interstate nature of broadband service, the Commission may determine, in consultation with the Federal-State Joint Board, whether State matching funds must be provided as a condition of eligibility for low-income households within such State. (D)

Amount of support

The Commission, in calculating the amount of support to be provided to each low-income household, shall routinely study the prevailing market price for broadband service and the prevailing speed of broadband service adopted by households. To fulfill this requirement, the Commission shall rely on information that it routinely collects or that is publicly available. (E)

Technology neutral

The Commission shall ensure that the broadband lifeline program is neutral as to the types of technology used to provide broadband service to promote competition from broadband service providers to qualify under such program. A broadband service provider need not be an eligible telecommunications carrier to receive support under the broadband lifeline program, but such provider shall obtain authorization from the Commission in order to participate in the program. .