[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1950 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1950

To require the Federal Communications Commission to submit to Congress 
 a report on promoting broadband Internet access service for veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 5, 2017

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Federal Communications Commission to submit to Congress 
 a report on promoting broadband Internet access service for veterans.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Broadband Access for 
Veterans Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON PROMOTING BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE FOR 
              VETERANS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``broadband Internet access service''--
                    (A) means a mass-market retail service by wire or 
                radio that provides the capability to transmit data to 
                and receive data from all or substantially all Internet 
                endpoints, including any capabilities that are 
                incidental to and enable the operation of the 
                communications service;
                    (B) does not include dial-up Internet access 
                service; and
                    (C) includes any service that the Commission finds 
                to be providing a functional equivalent of the service 
                described in subparagraph (A);
            (2) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission; and
            (3) the term ``veteran'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Report Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress 
        a report on promoting broadband Internet access service for 
        veterans, in particular low-income veterans and veterans 
        residing in rural areas.
            (2) Contents.--In the report required under paragraph (1), 
        the Commission shall--
                    (A) examine broadband Internet access service and 
                how to promote broadband Internet access service; and
                    (B) provide findings and recommendations for 
                Congress with respect to broadband Internet access 
                service and how to promote broadband Internet access 
                service.
    (c) Public Notice and Opportunity To Comment.--In preparing the 
report required under subsection (b), the Commission shall provide the 
public with notice and an opportunity to comment on broadband Internet 
access service for veterans, in particular low-income veterans and 
veterans residing in rural areas, and how to promote broadband Internet 
access service for such individuals.
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