[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2644 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 637
114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2644

                          [Report No. 114-355]

 To reauthorize the Federal Communications Commission for fiscal years 
                 2017 and 2018, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 7, 2016

 Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Nelson) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

                           September 20, 2016

                Reported by Mr. Thune, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To reauthorize the Federal Communications Commission for fiscal years 
                 2017 and 2018, and for other purposes.

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

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``FCC Reauthorization Act of 
2016''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 6 of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 156) is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
for the administration of this Act by the Commission, other than the 
activities described in subsection (b), $361,116,000 for fiscal year 
2017 and $348,711,000 for fiscal year 2018, together with such sums as 
may be necessary for increases resulting from adjustments in salary, 
pay, retirement, other employee benefits required by law, and other 
nondiscretionary costs, for each such fiscal year.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Office of Inspector General.--Of the amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a), not less than $11,751,000 for fiscal 
year 2017 and not less than $11,904,000 for fiscal year 2018 shall be 
for salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector General of the 
Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) New or Reconfigured Facility.--Of the amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a) for fiscal year 2017, such sums as 
may be necessary not to exceed $16,867,000 shall remain available until 
expended for necessary expenses of the Commission associated with 
moving to a new facility or reconfiguring the existing facility to 
significantly reduce space consumption.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Offsetting Collections.--Of the sum appropriated in 
any fiscal year under this section, a portion, in an amount determined 
under section 9(b), shall be derived from fees authorized by section 
9.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Retention of Revenues.--Section 309(j)(8)(B) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(B)) is amended to read 
as follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Retention of revenues.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding 
                        subparagraph (A) and subject to clause (ii) of 
                        this subparagraph, the salaries and expenses 
                        account of the Commission shall retain as an 
                        offsetting collection such sums as may be 
                        necessary from such proceeds for the costs of 
                        developing and implementing the program 
                        required by this subsection. Such offsetting 
                        collections shall be available for obligation 
                        subject to the terms and conditions of the 
                        receiving appropriations account, and shall be 
                        deposited in such accounts on a quarterly 
                        basis. Such offsetting collections are 
                        authorized to remain available until expended. 
                        No sums may be retained under this subparagraph 
                        during any fiscal year beginning after 
                        September 30, 1998, if the annual report of the 
                        Commission under section 4(k) for the second 
                        preceding fiscal year fails to include in the 
                        itemized statement required by paragraph (3) of 
                        such section a statement of each expenditure 
                        made for purposes of conducting competitive 
                        bidding under this subsection during such 
                        second preceding fiscal year.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Cap.--Proceeds from the use 
                        of a competitive bidding system under this 
                        subsection that may be retained and made 
                        available for obligation under clause (i) shall 
                        not exceed $124,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 
                        and $110,750,000 for fiscal year 
                        2018.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. TERMS OF OFFICE AND VACANCIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 4(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
154(c)) is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c)(1) A commissioner--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) shall be appointed for a term of 5 
        years;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) except as provided in subparagraph (C), may 
        continue to serve after the expiration of the fixed term of 
        office of the commissioner until a successor is appointed and 
        has been confirmed and taken the oath of office; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) may not continue to serve after the 
        expiration of the session of Congress that begins after the 
        expiration of the fixed term of office of the 
        commissioner.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) Any person chosen to fill a vacancy in the 
Commission--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) shall be appointed for the unexpired term of 
        the commissioner that the person succeeds;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) except as provided in subparagraph (C), may 
        continue to serve after the expiration of the fixed term of 
        office of the commissioner that the person succeeds until a 
        successor is appointed and has been confirmed and taken the 
        oath of office; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) may not continue to serve after the 
        expiration of the session of Congress that begins after the 
        expiration of the fixed term of office of the commissioner that 
        the person succeeds.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3) No vacancy in the Commission shall impair the right 
of the remaining commissioners to exercise all the powers of the 
Commission.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. SUBMISSION OF COPY OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS TO 
              CONGRESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 4 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
154) is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(p) Budget Estimates and Requests; Legislative 
Recommendations, Testimony, and Comments on Legislation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Budget estimates and requests.--If the 
        Commission submits any budget estimate or request to the 
        President or the Office of Management and Budget, the 
        Commission shall concurrently transmit a copy of that estimate 
        or request to Congress.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Legislative recommendations, testimony, and 
        comments on legislation.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--If the Commission 
                submits any legislative recommendations, testimony, or 
                comments on legislation to the President or the Office 
                of Management and Budget, the Commission shall 
                concurrently transmit a copy thereof to 
                Congress.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Prohibition.--No officer or agency 
                of the United States may require the Commission to 
                submit legislative recommendations, testimony, or 
                comments on legislation to any officer or agency of the 
                United States for approval, comments, or review prior 
                to the submission of the recommendations, testimony, or 
                comments to Congress.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. GAO REPORT ON FCC REGULATORY FEE STRUCTURE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
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 on the current regulatory fee assessments and 
adjustment process of the Federal Communications Commission.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Contents.--The Comptroller General shall include in 
the report submitted under subsection (a)--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) a determination as to whether the current 
        regulatory fee structure correlates to the actual workload of 
        the Federal Communications Commission;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) a determination as to whether the current 
        regulatory fees are reasonably related to the benefits provided 
        to the payor of the fees;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) a determination as to whether the current 
        regulatory fee structure has a disparate impact on certain 
        payors or technologies; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) recommendations as to how the current 
        regulatory fee structure should be adjusted.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. APPLICATION OF ANTIDEFICIENCY ACT TO UNIVERSAL SERVICE 
              PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 302 of the Universal Service Antideficiency 
Temporary Suspension Act (title III of Public Law 108-494; 118 Stat. 
3998) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'', each place it 
appears and inserting ``September 30, 2018''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. DEPOSITS FOR SPECTRUM AUCTIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 309(j)(8)(C) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(C)) is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Deposits.--Any deposits the 
                Commission may require for the qualification of any 
                person to bid in a system of competitive bidding 
                pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the 
                Treasury. Within 45 days following the conclusion of 
                the competitive bidding--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the deposits of successful 
                        bidders shall be credited to the deposit fund 
                        of the Treasury, except as otherwise provided 
                        in subparagraphs (D)(ii), (E)(ii), (F), and 
                        (G); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the deposits of 
                        unsuccessful bidders shall be returned to such 
                        bidders.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. JOINT BOARD RECOMMENDATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Federal Communications Commission may not modify, 
amend, or change its rules or regulations for universal service support 
payments to implement the February 27, 2004, recommendations of the 
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service regarding single 
connection or primary line restrictions on universal service support 
payments.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``FCC Reauthorization Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 5. Terms of office and vacancies.
Sec. 6. Submission of copy of certain documents to Congress.
Sec. 7. GAO report on FCC regulatory fee structure.
Sec. 8. Application of Antideficiency Act to universal service program.
Sec. 9. Deposits for spectrum auctions.
Sec. 10. Joint board recommendation.
Sec. 11. Spoofing prevention.
Sec. 12. Kari's law.
Sec. 13. Rulemaking relating to cramming.
Sec. 14. Rulemaking relating to promoting broadband internet access 
                            service for veterans.
Sec. 15. Impact of universal service support on tribes.
Sec. 16. Chief Information Officer authority.
Sec. 17. Disclaimer for press releases regarding notices of apparent 
                            liability.
Sec. 18. Federal spectrum transparency and value.
Sec. 19. Study and report on filing requirements under Universal 
                            Service Fund programs.
Sec. 20. Feasibility study on mobile broadband coverage drive testing 
                            in rural areas.
Sec. 21. Study on Internet Protocol transition.
Sec. 22. Report on incentive auction repack.
Sec. 23. Report on Universal Service Rural Health Care Program.
Sec. 24. GAO report relating to the E-rate program.
Sec. 25. GAO report.
Sec. 26. Reports related to spectrum auctions.
Sec. 27. FCC broadband data collection report.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (3) Voice service.--The term ``voice service''--
                    (A) means any service that furnishes voice 
                communications to an end user using resources from the 
                North American Numbering Plan or any successor to the 
                North American Numbering Plan adopted by the Commission 
                under section 251(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 
                1934 (47 U.S.C. 251(e)(1)); and
                    (B) includes transmissions from a telephone 
                facsimile machine, computer, or other device to a 
                telephone facsimile machine, as that term is defined in 
                section 227(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
                U.S.C. 227(a)).

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 6 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 156) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for the 
administration of this Act by the Commission, other than the activities 
described in subsection (b), $361,116,000 for fiscal year 2017 and 
$348,711,000 for fiscal year 2018, together with such sums as may be 
necessary for increases resulting from adjustments in salary, pay, 
retirement, other employee benefits required by law, and other 
nondiscretionary costs, for each such fiscal year.
    ``(b) Office of Inspector General.--Of the amounts appropriated 
under subsection (a), not less than $11,751,000 for fiscal year 2017 
and not less than $11,904,000 for fiscal year 2018 shall be for 
salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector General of the 
Commission.
    ``(c) New or Reconfigured Facility.--Of the amounts appropriated 
under subsection (a) for fiscal year 2017, such sums as may be 
necessary not to exceed $16,867,000 shall remain available until 
expended for necessary expenses of the Commission associated with 
moving to a new facility or reconfiguring the existing facility to 
significantly reduce space consumption.
    ``(d) Offsetting Collections.--Of the sum appropriated in any 
fiscal year under this section, a portion, in an amount determined 
under section 9(b), shall be derived from fees authorized by section 
9.''.

SEC. 5. TERMS OF OFFICE AND VACANCIES.

    Section 4(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 154(c)) 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c)(1) A commissioner--
            ``(A) shall be appointed for a term of 5 years;
            ``(B) except as provided in subparagraph (C), may continue 
        to serve after the expiration of the fixed term of office of 
        the commissioner until a successor is appointed and has been 
        confirmed and taken the oath of office; and
            ``(C) may not continue to serve after the expiration of the 
        session of Congress that begins after the expiration of the 
        fixed term of office of the commissioner.
    ``(2) Any person chosen to fill a vacancy in the Commission--
            ``(A) shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the 
        commissioner that the person succeeds;
            ``(B) except as provided in subparagraph (C), may continue 
        to serve after the expiration of the fixed term of office of 
        the commissioner that the person succeeds until a successor is 
        appointed and has been confirmed and taken the oath of office; 
        and
            ``(C) may not continue to serve after the expiration of the 
        session of Congress that begins after the expiration of the 
        fixed term of office of the commissioner that the person 
        succeeds.
    ``(3) No vacancy in the Commission shall impair the right of the 
remaining commissioners to exercise all the powers of the 
Commission.''.

SEC. 6. SUBMISSION OF COPY OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS TO CONGRESS.

    Section 4 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 154) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(p) Budget Estimates and Requests; Legislative Recommendations, 
Testimony, and Comments on Legislation; Semiannual Reports.--
            ``(1) Budget estimates and requests.--If the Commission 
        submits any budget estimate or request to the President or the 
        Office of Management and Budget, the Commission shall 
        concurrently transmit a copy of that estimate or request to 
        Congress.
            ``(2) Legislative recommendations, testimony, and comments 
        on legislation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If the Commission submits any 
                legislative recommendations, testimony, or comments on 
                legislation to the President or the Office of 
                Management and Budget, the Commission shall 
                concurrently transmit a copy thereof to Congress.
                    ``(B) Prohibition.--No officer or agency of the 
                United States may require the Commission to submit 
                legislative recommendations, testimony, or comments on 
                legislation to any officer or agency of the United 
                States for approval, comments, or review prior to the 
                submission of the recommendations, testimony, or 
                comments to Congress.
            ``(3) Office of inspector general semiannual reports.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding section 5(b) of 
                the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), the 
                Inspector General of the Commission shall concurrently 
                submit each semiannual report required under such 
                section 5(b) to the Commission and to the appropriate 
                committees or subcommittees of Congress.
                    ``(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in 
                subparagraph (A) shall be construed to modify the 
                requirement for the Commission to submit to the 
                appropriate committees or subcommittees of Congress 
                each such semiannual report together with a report by 
                the Commission under such section 5(b).''.

SEC. 7. GAO REPORT ON FCC REGULATORY FEE STRUCTURE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
the current regulatory fee assessments and adjustment process of the 
Commission.
    (b) Contents.--The Comptroller General shall include in the report 
submitted under subsection (a)--
            (1) a determination as to whether the current regulatory 
        fee structure correlates to the actual workload of the 
        Commission;
            (2) a determination as to whether the current regulatory 
        fees are reasonably related to the benefits provided to the 
        payor of the fees;
            (3) a determination as to whether the current regulatory 
        fee structure has a disparate impact on certain payors or 
        technologies;
            (4) a determination as to whether the current regulatory 
        fee structure has a disparate impact on small-sized payors; and
            (5) recommendations as to how the current regulatory fee 
        structure should be adjusted.

SEC. 8. APPLICATION OF ANTIDEFICIENCY ACT TO UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM.

    Section 302 of the Universal Service Antideficiency Temporary 
Suspension Act (title III of Public Law 108-494; 118 Stat. 3998) is 
amended by striking ``December 31, 2017'', each place it appears and 
inserting ``September 30, 2018''.

SEC. 9. DEPOSITS FOR SPECTRUM AUCTIONS.

    Section 309(j)(8)(C) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
309(j)(8)(C)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(C) Deposits.--Any deposits the Commission may 
                require for the qualification of any person to bid in a 
                system of competitive bidding pursuant to this 
                subsection shall be deposited in the Treasury. Within 
                45 days following the conclusion of the competitive 
                bidding--
                            ``(i) the deposits of successful bidders 
                        shall be credited to the deposit fund of the 
                        Treasury, except as otherwise provided in 
                        subparagraphs (D)(ii), (E)(ii), (F), and (G); 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the deposits of unsuccessful bidders 
                        shall be returned to such bidders.''.

SEC. 10. JOINT BOARD RECOMMENDATION.

    The Commission may not modify, amend, or change its rules or 
regulations for universal service support payments to implement the 
February 27, 2004, recommendations of the Federal-State Joint Board on 
Universal Service regarding single connection or primary line 
restrictions on universal service support payments.

SEC. 11. SPOOFING PREVENTION.

    (a) Expanding and Clarifying Prohibition on Misleading or 
Inaccurate Caller Identification Information.--
            (1) Communications from outside the united states.--Section 
        227(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
        227(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``in connection with any 
        telecommunications service or IP-enabled voice service'' and 
        inserting ``or any person outside the United States if the 
        recipient of the call is within the United States, in 
        connection with any voice service or text messaging service''.
            (2) Coverage of text messages and voice services.--Section 
        227(e)(8) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
        227(e)(8)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                ``telecommunications service or IP-enabled voice 
                service'' and inserting ``voice service or a text 
                message sent using a text messaging service'';
                    (B) in the first sentence of subparagraph (B), by 
                striking ``telecommunications service or IP-enabled 
                voice service'' and inserting ``voice service or a text 
                message sent using a text messaging service''; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(C) Text message.--The term `text message'--
                            ``(i) means a message consisting of text, 
                        images, sounds, or other information that is 
                        transmitted from or received by a device that 
                        is identified as the transmitting or receiving 
                        device by means of a 10-digit telephone number;
                            ``(ii) includes a short message service 
                        (commonly referred to as `SMS') message, an 
                        enhanced message service (commonly referred to 
                        as `EMS') message, and a multimedia message 
                        service (commonly referred to as `MMS') 
                        message; and
                            ``(iii) does not include a real-time, 2-way 
                        voice or video communication.
                    ``(D) Text messaging service.--The term `text 
                messaging service' means a service that permits the 
                transmission or receipt of a text message, including a 
                service provided as part of or in connection with a 
                voice service.
                    ``(E) Voice service.--The term `voice service'--
                            ``(i) means any service that furnishes 
                        voice communications to an end user using 
                        resources from the North American Numbering 
                        Plan or any successor to the North American 
                        Numbering Plan adopted by the Commission under 
                        section 251(e)(1); and
                            ``(ii) includes transmissions from a 
                        telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other 
                        device to a telephone facsimile machine.''.
            (3) Technical amendment.--Section 227(e) of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)) is amended in the 
        heading by inserting ``Misleading or'' before ``Inaccurate''.
            (4) Regulations.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 227(e)(3)(A) of the 
                Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(3)(A)) is 
                amended by striking ``Not later than 6 months after the 
                date of enactment of the Truth in Caller ID Act of 
                2009, the Commission'' and inserting ``The 
                Commission''.
                    (B) Deadline.--The Commission shall prescribe 
                regulations to implement the amendments made by this 
                subsection not later than 18 months after the date of 
                enactment of this Act.
            (5) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date 
        on which the Commission prescribes regulations under paragraph 
        (4).
    (b) Consumer Education Materials on How to Avoid Scams That Rely 
Upon Misleading or Inaccurate Caller Identification Information.--
            (1) Development of materials.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in 
        collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission, shall develop 
        consumer education materials that provide information about--
                    (A) ways for consumers to identify scams and other 
                fraudulent activity that rely upon the use of 
                misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
                information; and
                    (B) existing technologies, if any, that a consumer 
                can use to protect against such scams and other 
                fraudulent activity.
            (2) Contents.--In developing the consumer education 
        materials under paragraph (1), the Commission shall--
                    (A) identify existing technologies, if any, that 
                can help consumers guard themselves against scams and 
                other fraudulent activity that rely upon the use of 
                misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
                information, including--
                            (i) descriptions of how a consumer can use 
                        the technologies to protect against such scams 
                        and other fraudulent activity; and
                            (ii) details on how consumers can access 
                        and use the technologies; and
                    (B) provide other information that may help 
                consumers identify and avoid scams and other fraudulent 
                activity that rely upon the use of misleading or 
                inaccurate caller identification information.
            (3) Updates.--The Commission shall ensure that the consumer 
        education materials required under paragraph (1) are updated on 
        a regular basis.
            (4) Website.--The Commission shall include the consumer 
        education materials developed under paragraph (1) on its 
        website.
    (c) GAO Report on Combating the Fraudulent Provision of Misleading 
or Inaccurate Caller Identification Information.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct a study of the actions the Commission and 
        the Federal Trade Commission have taken to combat the 
        fraudulent provision of misleading or inaccurate caller 
        identification information, and the additional measures that 
        could be taken to combat such activity.
            (2) Required considerations.--In conducting the study under 
        paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall examine--
                    (A) trends in the types of scams that rely on 
                misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
                information;
                    (B) previous and current enforcement actions by the 
                Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to combat 
                the practices prohibited by section 227(e)(1) of the 
                Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(1));
                    (C) current efforts by industry groups and other 
                entities to develop technical standards to deter or 
                prevent the fraudulent provision of misleading or 
                inaccurate caller identification information, and how 
                such standards may help combat the current and future 
                provision of misleading or inaccurate caller 
                identification information; and
                    (D) whether there are additional actions the 
                Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and Congress 
                should take to combat the fraudulent provision of 
                misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
                information.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
        the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
        findings of the study under paragraph (1), including any 
        recommendations regarding combating the fraudulent provision of 
        misleading or inaccurate caller identification information.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section, or the 
amendments made by this section, shall be construed to modify, limit, 
or otherwise affect any rule or order adopted by the Commission in 
connection with--
            (1) the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (Public 
        Law 102-243; 105 Stat. 2394) or the amendments made by that 
        Act; or
            (2) the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (15 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).

SEC. 12. KARI'S LAW.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Kari's Law Act 
of 2016''.
    (b) Default Configuration of Multi-line Telephone Systems for 
Direct Dialing of 9-1-1.--
            (1) In general.--Title VII of the Communications Act of 
        1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
        the following:

``SEC. 721. DEFAULT CONFIGURATION OF MULTI-LINE TELEPHONE SYSTEMS FOR 
              DIRECT DIALING OF 9-1-1.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `multi-line telephone system' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 6502 of the Middle Class Tax 
        Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1471); and
            ``(2) the term `public safety answering point' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 222(h) of this Act.
    ``(b) Multi-line Telephone System Functionality.--A person engaged 
in the business of manufacturing, importing, selling, or leasing multi-
line telephone systems may not manufacture or import for use in the 
United States or sell or lease or offer to sell or lease in the United 
States a multi-line telephone system unless the system's technology 
would allow installation as specified in subsection (c).
    ``(c) Multi-line Telephone System Installation.--A person engaged 
in the business of installing a multi-line telephone system serving 
locations in the United States may not install such a system in the 
United States unless upon installation the system allows a call that is 
initiated when a user dials 9-1-1 from any station equipped with 
dialing facilities to be transmitted to the appropriate public safety 
answering point--
            ``(1) without requiring the user to dial any additional 
        digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access 
        code (such as the digit `9'); and
            ``(2) regardless of whether the user is required to dial 
        such a digit, code, prefix, or post-fix for other calls.
    ``(d) Other 9-1-1 Emergency Dialing Patterns.--Nothing in this 
section shall prohibit the configuration of a multi-line telephone 
system so that other 9-1-1 emergency dialing patterns will also 
initiate a call to a public safety answering point, provided that the 
dialing pattern 9-1-1 remains available to users.
    ``(e) On-Site Notification.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person engaged in the business of 
        installing multi-line telephone systems, in installing a system 
        described in paragraph (2), shall configure the system so that 
        when a person at the facility where the system is installed 
        initiates a call to 9-1-1 using the system, the system provides 
        a notification to--
                    ``(A) a central location at the facility; or
                    ``(B) a person or organization with responsibility 
                for safety or security for the location as designated 
                by the manager or operator of the system.
            ``(2) Application.--A system described in this paragraph is 
        a multi-line telephone system that is able to be configured to 
        provide the notification described in paragraph (1) without an 
        improvement to the hardware of the system.
    ``(f) Regulations.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Commission may prescribe regulations 
        to carry out this section.
            ``(2) Technologically neutral.--Regulations prescribed 
        under paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable, promote 
        the purposes of this section in a technologically neutral 
        manner.
    ``(g) Enforcement.--This section shall be enforced under title V, 
except that section 501 applies only to the extent that the section 
provides for the imposition of a fine.
    ``(h) Effect on State Law.--Nothing in this section or in 
regulations prescribed under this section shall be construed to prevent 
any State from enforcing any State law that is not inconsistent with 
this section.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply with respect to a multi-line telephone system that 
        is manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, 
        first sold or leased, or installed after the date that is 2 
        years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 13. RULEMAKING RELATING TO CRAMMING.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``cramming'' means the 
act of placing unauthorized charges on a wireline, wireless, or bundled 
services telephone bill of a consumer.
    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commission shall complete a rulemaking proceeding 
relating to cramming, during which the Commission shall consider 
measures related, but not limited, to blocking the placement of third 
party charges on a wireline, wireless, or bundled services telephone 
bill of a consumer under the criteria upon which the Commission relied 
when the Commission entered into a consent decree relating to cramming 
with any mobile voice and data service provider.

SEC. 14. RULEMAKING RELATING TO PROMOTING BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS 
              SERVICE FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``broadband Internet access service'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 8.2 of title 47, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto; and
            (2) the term ``veteran'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commission shall release a notice of inquiry relating 
to examining and promoting broadband Internet access service for 
veterans, in particular low-income veterans and veterans residing in 
rural areas.

SEC. 15. IMPACT OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT ON TRIBES.

    Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) Impact of Universal Service Support on Tribes.--
            ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `tribal 
        land' means land included in the definition of `Tribal lands' 
        in section 54.400 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
        any successor regulation.
            ``(2) Measuring impact of universal service support on 
        tribal land.--
                    ``(A) Development of metrics.--Not later than 
                December 31, 2017, for each universal service support 
                mechanism, the Commission shall develop and implement 
                metrics to measure the impact of universal service 
                support on the deployment and adoption of broadband, 
                including--
                            ``(i) deployment on tribal land and 
                        adoption by residents of tribal land;
                            ``(ii) adoption by--
                                    ``(I) schools and libraries located 
                                on tribal land; and
                                    ``(II) schools and libraries that 
                                serve large numbers of residents of 
                                tribal land; and
                            ``(iii) adoption by--
                                    ``(I) health care facilities 
                                located on tribal land; and
                                    ``(II) rural health care providers 
                                that serve large numbers of residents 
                                of tribal land.
                    ``(B) Data.--In developing and implementing metrics 
                under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall rely on 
                data collected from multiple sources, including--
                            ``(i) data collected by the Commission or 
                        the Universal Service Administrative Company in 
                        the course of administering the universal 
                        service support mechanisms;
                            ``(ii) data collected by--
                                    ``(I) other agencies such as the 
                                Department of Education, the Department 
                                of Health and Human Services, the 
                                Bureau of Indian Affairs (including 
                                data on the Rights of Way on Indian 
                                Land Final Rule (25 C.F.R. 169)), and 
                                the Department of Commerce; and
                                    ``(II) tribal, State, and local 
                                governments;
                            ``(iii) data collected by tribally-owned 
                        and non-tribally-owned broadband service 
                        providers; and
                            ``(iv) other private sector sources of 
                        information.
            ``(3) Analyzing and reporting on impact of universal 
        service support on tribes and tribal land.--Beginning in 2018, 
        the Commission shall prepare and submit to Congress a biennial 
        report that--
                    ``(A) includes the measurements taken under 
                paragraph (2);
                    ``(B) addresses ways to improve the efficacy of 
                universal service support on tribal land and for 
                residents of tribal land with regard to broadband 
                deployment and adoption;
                    ``(C) identifies barriers to broadband adoption and 
                deployment on tribal land;
                    ``(D) addresses ways to overcome the barriers 
                described in subparagraph (C);
                    ``(E) addresses ways to improve the collection of 
                data or use of open data sources by the Commission to 
                better measure the deployment and adoption of broadband 
                on tribal land;
                    ``(F) examines ways to implement or improve 
                measurements that show the impact of universal service 
                support on members of tribes who do not live on tribal 
                land; and
                    ``(G) examines ways to implement or improve 
                measurements that show the impact of universal service 
                support on eligible schools, libraries, and rural 
                health care providers that are not located on tribal 
                land but serve large numbers of residents of tribal 
                land.
            ``(4) No increase in administrative burden.--In carrying 
        out this subsection, the Commission shall ensure that any data 
        collection efforts do not result in a net increase in the 
        administrative burden on private sector sources of information.
            ``(5) Working group.--The Commission shall convene a multi-
        stakeholder working group to examine ways to establish metrics 
        under paragraph (2) that--
                    ``(A) do not place additional burdens on carriers; 
                and
                    ``(B) utilize open data resources.
            ``(6) Sunset.--This subsection shall terminate on December 
        31, 2032.''.

SEC. 16. CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall ensure that the Chief 
Information Officer of the Commission has the authority to participate 
in decisions regarding the budget planning process related to 
information technology.
    (b) CIO Approval.--Amounts appropriated to the Commission that are 
available for information technology shall be allocated within the 
Commission, consistent with the provisions of appropriations Acts and 
budget guidelines and recommendations from the Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget, in such manner as specified by, or approved 
by, the Chief Information Officer of the Commission in consultation 
with the Chief Financial Officer of the Commission and budget 
officials.

SEC. 17. DISCLAIMER FOR PRESS RELEASES REGARDING NOTICES OF APPARENT 
              LIABILITY.

    The Commission shall include in any press release regarding the 
issuance of a notice of apparent liability under section 503(b)(4) of 
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 503(b)(4)) a disclaimer 
informing consumers that--
            (1) the issuance of a notice of apparent liability should 
        be treated only as allegations; and
            (2) the amount of any forfeiture penalty proposed in a 
        notice of apparent liability represents the maximum penalty 
        that the Commission may impose for the violations alleged in 
        the notice of apparent liability.

SEC. 18. FEDERAL SPECTRUM TRANSPARENCY AND VALUE.

    (a) Spectrum Opportunity Cost Study and Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
        Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a report on the annual 
        opportunity cost of each specific Federal spectrum band 
        assigned to, or otherwise allocated for use by, Federal 
        entities.
            (2) Scope.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
        cover all federally allocated spectrum bands between 150 
        megahertz and 6000 megahertz, inclusive.
            (3) Requirements.--Each report submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) define the term ``opportunity cost'' as the 
                value of the spectrum, in dollar terms, as if such 
                spectrum were to be reallocated on a licensed or 
                unlicensed basis to the highest commercial alternative 
                use that currently does not have access to that 
                spectrum;
                    (B) take into account the national security 
                implications, including mission effectiveness, of the 
                potential transfer of Federal spectrum and the ability 
                of Federal entities to move to new bands or share 
                existing bands, and any limitations on such moving or 
                sharing;
                    (C) take into account the time required to relocate 
                and the cost of any potential relocation or sharing of 
                spectrum;
                    (D) take into account observed market valuations 
                from spectrum auctions, secondary spectrum trading, and 
                other market indicators of spectrum value; and
                    (E) determine the opportunity costs of spectrum 
                assigned or otherwise allocated to Federal entities on 
                an exclusive or shared basis.
    (b) Spectrum Technology Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
        Comptroller General of the United States shall--
                    (A) examine the technologies and equipment used by 
                Federal entities operating on Federal spectrum 
                allocations; and
                    (B) determine whether such technologies and 
                equipment are the most spectrum-efficient available 
                compared to existing technology to assist in efficient 
                use of spectrum.
            (2) Scope.--Each study conducted under paragraph (1) shall 
        cover all federally allocated spectrum bands between 150 
        megahertz and 6000 megahertz, inclusive.
            (3) Considerations.--In conducting each study under 
        paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall take into 
        account--
                    (A) limitations on the acceptance of new technology 
                and equipment such as design characteristics of 
                national security programs and acquisition challenges 
                associated with introducing new technologies into 
                complex defense programs with unique requirements, 
                including national security satellite programs; and
                    (B) the impact of accepting new technology and 
                equipment on mission effectiveness.
            (4) Certain determinations made.--If any study required 
        under paragraph (1) determines that the technologies and 
        equipment of Federal entities operating on Federal spectrum 
        allocations are not the most spectrum-efficient available, the 
        Comptroller General shall determine--
                    (A) what the costs would be to upgrade such systems 
                to more up-to-date and readily available systems;
                    (B) what benefits would be gained from upgrading, 
                particularly any cost savings or increases in spectrum 
                utilization efficiency; and
                    (C) whether there are any potential problems with 
                upgrading to more up-to-date systems.
            (5) Reports.--The Comptroller General shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a report on each study 
        required under paragraph (1).
    (c) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on the date that is 10 
years after the date on which the first report is submitted under 
subsection (a).
    (d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--For purposes of 
this section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate;
            (2) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
            (3) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
            (4) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (5) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (6) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
        House of Representatives.

SEC. 19. STUDY AND REPORT ON FILING REQUIREMENTS UNDER UNIVERSAL 
              SERVICE FUND PROGRAMS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission;
            (2) the term ``covered carrier'' means an eligible 
        telecommunications carrier or service provider that receives 
        universal service support under sections 214(e) and 254 of the 
        Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e) and 254) for the 
        provision of service under a Universal Service Fund program; 
        and
            (3) the term ``Universal Service Fund program'' means--
                    (A) the Connect America Fund of the Commission set 
                forth under subpart D of part 54 of title 47, Code of 
                Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto;
                    (B) the Lifeline program of the Commission set 
                forth under subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code of 
                Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto;
                    (C) the E-Rate program of the Commission set forth 
                under subpart F of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal 
                Regulations, or any successor thereto; or
                    (D) the Rural Health Care program of the Commission 
                set forth under subpart G of part 54 of title 47, Code 
                of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto.
    (b) Study and Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study and submit to the Commission and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report, which 
shall include--
            (1) an analysis of the filing requirements for covered 
        carriers participating in a Universal Service Fund program, 
        including any filings required by the Universal Service 
        Administrative Company and the National Exchange Carrier 
        Association;
            (2) an analysis of the financial impact of those filing 
        requirements on covered carriers participating in a Universal 
        Service Fund program; and
            (3) recommendations on how to consolidate redundant filing 
        requirements for covered carriers participating in a Universal 
        Service Fund program.

SEC. 20. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON MOBILE BROADBAND COVERAGE DRIVE TESTING 
              IN RURAL AREAS.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``rural area'' means a 
nonmetropolitan county or county equivalent, as defined by the Office 
of Management and Budget.
    (b) Study.--The Commission shall study the feasibility of 
conducting mobile broadband coverage drive testing in rural areas, to 
determine the scope of existing mobile broadband coverage, using--
            (1) the delivery systems of the United States Postal 
        Service;
            (2) commercial entities; and
            (3) any other means that the Commission determines 
        appropriate.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Commission--
            (1) shall submit to Congress a report with the results of 
        the study conducted under subsection (b); and
            (2) if the Commission determines that conducting drive 
        testing as described in subsection (b) is not feasible, shall 
        include in the report recommendations for other methods of 
        mobile broadband coverage testing in rural areas that the 
        Commission considers feasible.

SEC. 21. STUDY ON INTERNET PROTOCOL TRANSITION.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Internet Protocol 
transition'' means the transition of telecommunications services in the 
United States from legacy telephone services to Internet Protocol-based 
services.
    (b) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on the potential benefits of the Internet Protocol 
transition and the preparedness of the Federal Government to 
efficiently facilitate the transition, including by examining how the 
Federal Government--
            (1) is working with public and private sector stakeholders; 
        and
            (2) can best facilitate the transition in rural and low-
        income communities.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the study 
conducted under subsection (b).

SEC. 22. REPORT ON INCENTIVE AUCTION REPACK.

    (a) First Report.--As expeditiously as possible, and not later than 
105 days after the completion of the forward auction required under 
section 6403(c) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452(c)), the Commission shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that contains an analysis 
of--
            (1) how many and which broadcast television licensees and 
        other entities have submitted TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund 
        reimbursement forms;
            (2) the aggregate amount of reimbursements requested from 
        the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund and an estimate of what 
        resources are currently available to reimburse costs reasonably 
        incurred by broadcast television licensees and other entities;
            (3) how many television stations will be required to 
        relocate to a new channel assignment following the completion 
        of the forward auction; and
            (4) the status of bilateral spectrum coordination with 
        Canada and Mexico.
    (b) Second Report.--Not later than 240 days after the completion of 
the forward auction required under section 6403(c) of the Middle Class 
Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1452(c)), the 
Commission shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report that contains--
            (1) a construction schedule for the relocation of 
        television stations to new channel assignments following the 
        completion of the forward auction;
            (2) a projection, to the extent possible, of whether 
        broadcast television viewers will face any service disruptions 
        as a result of the relocation of television stations to new 
        channel assignments;
            (3) a projection, to the extent possible, of the impact of 
        the relocation of television stations to new channel 
        assignments on rural areas of the United States and television 
        broadcast translator services; and
            (4) what steps may be taken to accelerate the relocation of 
        television stations to new channel assignments and expedite 
        successful forward auction bidders' use of spectrum.

SEC. 23. REPORT ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE RURAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``funding year'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 54.675(b) of title 47, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
    (b) Report Required.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that assesses the Universal Service 
Rural Health Care Program of the Commission.
    (c) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (b) shall 
include--
            (1) data on the amount of funding that the Universal 
        Service Rural Health Care Program has distributed to health 
        care providers in each State since the beginning of funding 
        year 2013, broken down by the--
                    (A) Healthcare Connect Fund;
                    (B) Telecommunications Program; and
                    (C) Rural Health Care Pilot Program;
            (2) data on the types of advanced telecommunications and 
        information services that each program described in 
        subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) has funded 
        since the beginning of funding year 2013;
            (3) data on the types of health care providers that each 
        program described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of 
        paragraph (1) has funded since the beginning of funding year 
        2013, broken down by each category listed in section 
        254(h)(7)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
        254(h)(7)(B));
            (4) an assessment of the efficacy of the Telecommunications 
        Program, including--
                    (A) the number of health care providers that the 
                Commission estimates have transferred from the Internet 
                Access Program and the Telecommunications Program to 
                the Healthcare Connect Fund since the beginning of 
                funding year 2013;
                    (B) whether there is a continued need for the 
                Telecommunications Program; and
                    (C) whether the Telecommunications Program should 
                be reformed or transitioned into the Healthcare Connect 
                Fund; and
            (5) a summary of recommendations made by commenters in 
        response to the notice of inquiry under subsection (d).
    (d) Notice of Inquiry.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue a notice of inquiry 
evaluating whether the Universal Service Rural Health Care Program is 
meeting the goals of section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 
(47 U.S.C. 254(h)), including--
            (1) regulatory and legislative proposals;
            (2) an evaluation of whether the definition of the term 
        ``health care provider'' under that section needs to be updated 
        to ensure that support is being used effectively to provide 
        health care services to rural areas; and
            (3) an evaluation of whether the advanced 
        telecommunications and information services funded by the 
        Program are sufficient to provide health care services to rural 
        areas.

SEC. 24. GAO REPORT RELATING TO THE E-RATE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
the E-rate program of the Commission set forth under subpart F of part 
54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (in this section referred 
to as the ``E-rate program'').
    (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) a review of the Second E-rate Modernization Order 
        adopted by the Commission on December 11, 2014 (FCC 14-189) and 
        the results of the order, including--
                    (A) whether the order has improved Internet 
                connectivity, including high-speed broadband and Wi-Fi, 
                for schools and libraries;
                    (B) whether the order has led to the provision of 
                additional funding to schools and libraries;
                    (C) the number of students and other individuals 
                impacted;
                    (D) whether the order has resulted in overbuilding 
                and the duplication of facilities already in existence, 
                and if so, the reason why; and
                    (E) whether effective safeguards are in place to 
                avoid overbuilding and the duplication of facilities 
                already in existence;
            (2) a determination as to what gaps still exist in Internet 
        connectivity, including high-speed broadband and Wi-Fi, for 
        schools and libraries; and
            (3) recommendations as to how the E-rate program can be 
        improved to better provide Internet connectivity, including 
        high-speed broadband and Wi-Fi, for schools and libraries.

SEC. 25. GAO REPORT.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``National Broadband 
Map'' means the broadband inventory map developed and maintained by the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 
Congress a report evaluating--
            (1) how the Federal Communications Commission ensures that 
        the broadband data collected by the Commission is accurate, 
        complete, and reliable, including how making the data publicly 
        available on the National Broadband Map, or any successor map, 
        aids the Commission in that goal;
            (2) the extent to which Federal agencies or other entities 
        authorized to distribute Federal grants or loans for broadband 
        projects rely on data in the National Broadband Map to--
                    (A) award grants and loans for broadband projects; 
                or
                    (B) determine whether Federal Government funds will 
                be used to deploy broadband in areas already served by 
                private broadband providers;
            (3) the actions the Commission has taken or plans to take 
        to address the limitations, if any, in using data in the 
        National Broadband Map, or any successor map, for policy or 
        funding decisions;
            (4) the extent to which interested parties have challenged 
        the accuracy of information in the National Broadband Map, or 
        any successor map, including how the challenges were resolved; 
        and
            (5) whether the Commission should collect data for the 
        National Broadband Map from additional or alternative 
        commercial sources.

SEC. 26. REPORTS RELATED TO SPECTRUM AUCTIONS.

    (a) Estimate of Upcoming Auctions.--Section 309(j) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8)(B), by striking ``second'' each place 
        it appears; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(18) Estimate of upcoming auctions.--
                    ``(A) Not later than September 30, 2016, and 
                annually thereafter, the Commission shall make publicly 
                available an estimate of what systems of competitive 
                bidding authorized under this subsection may be 
                initiated during the upcoming 12-month period.
                    ``(B) The estimate under subparagraph (A) shall, to 
                the extent possible, identify the bands of frequencies 
                the Commission expects to be included in each such 
                system of competitive bidding.''.
    (b) Auction Expenditure Justification Report.--Not later than April 
1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall provide to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report containing a detailed 
justification for the use of proceeds retained by the Commission under 
section 309(j)(8)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
309(j)(8)(B)) for the costs of developing and implementing the program 
required by section 309(j) of that Act.
    (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate;
            (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
            (3) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.

SEC. 27. FCC BROADBAND DATA COLLECTION REPORT.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the broadband deployment and 
subscription data collection practices of the Commission.
    (b) Considerations.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) a review of the broadband data collected through the 
        Form 477 process of the Commission, including for both fixed 
        and mobile broadband;
            (2) an explanation of how the Commission ensures that 
        broadband data submitted through the Form 477 process is 
        accurate;
            (3) recommendations, including legislative recommendations, 
        on how the Commission can improve the broadband data collection 
        practices of the Commission with respect to both fixed and 
        mobile broadband; and
            (4) with respect to any regulatory recommendations made in 
        the report, a plan for implementing those recommendations.
    (c) Public Comment.--The Commission shall provide notice and an 
opportunity for public comment on the report required under subsection 
(a) in order to solicit recommendations from those comments on how the 
Commission can improve the broadband data collection practices of the 
Commission.
                                                       Calendar No. 637

114th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2644

                          [Report No. 114-355]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To reauthorize the Federal Communications Commission for fiscal years 
                 2017 and 2018, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 20, 2016

                       Reported with an amendment