Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives

(a)

In general

Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb et seq.) is amended— (1)by redesignating sections 601 and 602 as sections 603 and 604, respectively; and (2)by inserting before section 603 (as so redesignated) the following new sections:

601.

Definitions

In this title: (1)

Office

The term Office means the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives established by section 602(a)(1). (2)

Under Secretary

The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives appointed under section 602(a)(2).

602.

Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives

(a)

Establishment

(1)

In general

There is established in the Department of Agriculture an office to be known as the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives. (2)

Under Secretary

The head of the Office shall be the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives, who shall— (A)be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and (B)report directly to the Secretary. (b)

Responsibilities

(1)

In general

The Under Secretary shall— (A)as of the date of enactment of this section, administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, including— (i)the rural broadband access loan and loan guarantee program established under section 603; and (ii)the Community Connect Grant Program described in subpart A of part 1739 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). (2)

Requirements

The Under Secretary shall— (A)conduct extensive, nationwide outreach to rural areas; (B)foster the development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision; (C)plan coordination of Federal resources for State, regional, and local governments to assist citizens living and working in rural areas; (D)assess all relevant technologies (including WiFi, WIMAX, DSL, cable, satellite, fiber, and broadband over power lines), as the technologies are able to support in whole or in part rural broadband needs and requirements; (E)serve as a single information source for all rural broadband programs and services administered by Federal agencies; and (F)provide technical assistance to State, regional, and local governments to develop broadband deployment strategies. (c)

Comprehensive rural broadband strategy

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary shall submit to the President and Congress a report describing comprehensive rural broadband strategy that includes— (A)recommendations— (i)to promote interagency coordination of Federal agencies in regards to policies, procedures, and targeted resources, and to improve and streamline the policies, programs, and services; (ii)to coordinate among Federal agencies regarding existing rural broadband or rural initiatives that could be of value to rural broadband development; (iii)to address both short- and long-term solutions and needs assessments for a rapid build-out of rural broadband solutions and applications for Federal, State, regional, and local government policy makers; (iv)to identify how specific Federal agency programs and resources can best respond to rural broadband requirements and overcome obstacles that currently impede rural broadband deployment; and (v)to promote successful model deployments and appropriate technologies being used in rural areas so that State, regional, and local governments can benefit from the cataloging of successes of other State, regional, and local governments; and (B)a description of goals and timeframes to achieve the strategic plans and visions identified in the report. (2)

Updates

The Under Secretary shall update and evaluate the report described in paragraph (1) on an annual basis. (d)

Rural Broadband Advisory Panel

(1)

In general

Not later than 60 days after the date of appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan to establish a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel (referred to in this subsection as the Panel). (2)

Chairperson

The Panel shall be chaired by the Under Secretary or a designee. (3)

Membership

The Panel shall be composed of representatives of— (A)State government; (B)local government; (C)communications equipment vendors (including broadband data service providers); (D)public utility services; (E)local exchange carriers; (F)wireless carriers; (G)satellite communications services; and (H)other appropriate public or private sector entities, as determined by the Under Secretary. (4)

Meetings

The Panel shall meet not less than 4 times each year. (5)

Duties

The Advisory Panel shall— (A)assist the Under Secretary in updating the annual report described in subsection (c)(2); (B)evaluate the effectiveness of all Federal broadband assistance programs and policies aimed at fostering broadband access in rural and underserved areas; (C)evaluate best practices employed at the State and local government level to foster broadband access in rural and underserved areas; and (D)cooperate with the Under Secretary in addressing and evaluating issues determined by the Under Secretary to be critical to fostering broadband access and connectivity in rural and underserved areas. (e)

Web-Based clearinghouse

The Under Secretary shall establish a comprehensive and interactive rural broadband Web-based clearinghouse that describes options, opportunities, resources, successful public-private partnerships, comprehensive funding sources, and technology tutorials for rural broadband, including— (1)case studies; (2)descriptions of best practices; (3)assessments of various technology solutions; (4)feasibility studies; (5)applications, including telework, telemedicine, distance learning, training, homeland security, senior citizen connectivity and program development, and business and economic development; (6)rural broadband options and policies analysis; and (7)support for networks among rural communities and economic development agencies.

(b)

Conforming amendments

Section 603 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1)) is amended— (1)in subsection (d)(1)(B), by striking subsection (k) and inserting subsection (l); (2)in subsection (j), by striking Administrator and inserting Under Secretary; (3)by redesignating subsections (k) and (l) as subsections (l) and (m), respectively; and (4)by inserting after subsection (j) the following:

(k)

Rules revision

(1)

In general

Not later than 60 days after the date of appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a revision of the rules and qualification criteria for the loan and loan guarantee programs under this section. (2)

Requirements

In preparing the revision, the Under Secretary shall— (A)emphasize streamlining the application process and processing time; (B)ensure that the financial requirements for applicants do not unduly disqualify applicants that have demonstrated a viable business plan; and (C)not diminish the mission of the program to deliver broadband service to underserved rural areas.