[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4229 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 279
116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4229

                          [Report No. 116-350]

    To require the Federal Communications Commission to issue rules 
relating to the collection of data with respect to the availability of 
              broadband services, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 6, 2019

   Mr. Loebsack (for himself, Mr. Latta, Mr. McEachin, and Mr. Long) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Energy and Commerce

                           December 16, 2019

 Additional sponsors: Mr. Welch, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Tonko, 
  Mr. Griffith, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Rush, Mr. O'Halleran, Mrs. 
  Rodgers of Washington, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of 
 Pennsylvania, Mr. Kinzinger, Ms. DeGette, Mr. McNerney, Ms. Clarke of 
  New York, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Golden, Ms. 
 Kendra S. Horn of Oklahoma, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Huffman, 
   Mr. Cardenas, Mr. Walden, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Underwood, Mr. Cox of 
California, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Wright, Mr. Balderson, Mr. 
   David Scott of Georgia, Mrs. Brooks of Indiana, Mr. Burgess, Mrs. 
 Hartzler, Mrs. Axne, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Ms. Finkenauer, Ms. 
Wexton, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Aguilar, Mr. Rouda, Mr. 
 Keller, Ms. Spanberger, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Ms. Torres Small of 
New Mexico, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Allen, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Smith of 
     Missouri, Mr. Delgado, Mr. Emmer, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Mr. 
Thornberry, Mr. Riggleman, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Tipton, Mr. Khanna, Mr. 
                 Olson, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Grothman

                           December 16, 2019

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                           September 6, 2019]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To require the Federal Communications Commission to issue rules 
relating to the collection of data with respect to the availability of 
              broadband services, and for other purposes.


 


    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 ``Broadband Deployment Accuracy and 
Technological Availability Act'' or the ``Broadband DATA Act''.

SEC. 2. BROADBAND DATA.

    The Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

                      ``TITLE VIII--BROADBAND DATA

``SEC. 801. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) Broadband internet access service.--The term 
        `broadband internet access service' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, or any successor regulation.
            ``(2) Broadband map.--The term `Broadband Map' means the 
        map created by the Commission under section 802(c)(1)(A).
            ``(3) Cell edge probability.--The term `cell edge 
        probability' means the likelihood that the minimum threshold 
        download and upload speeds with respect to broadband internet 
        access service will be met or exceeded at a distance from a 
        base station that is intended to indicate the ultimate edge of 
        the coverage area of a cell.
            ``(4) Cell loading.--The term `cell loading' means the 
        percentage of the available air interface resources of a base 
        station that are used by consumers with respect to broadband 
        internet access service.
            ``(5) Clutter.--The term `clutter' means a natural or man-
        made surface feature that affects the propagation of a signal 
        from a base station.
            ``(6) Fabric.--The term `Fabric' means the Broadband 
        Serviceable Location Fabric established under section 
        802(b)(1)(B).
            ``(7) Form 477.--The term `Form 477' means Form 477 of the 
        Commission relating to local telephone competition and 
        broadband reporting.
            ``(8) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the 
        meaning given the term `Indian tribe' in section 4 of the 
        Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
        U.S.C. 5304).
            ``(9) Mobility fund phase ii.--The term `Mobility Fund 
        Phase II' means the second phase of the proceeding to provide 
        universal service support from the Mobility Fund (WC Docket No. 
        10-90; WT Docket No. 10-208).
            ``(10) Propagation model.--The term `propagation model' 
        means a mathematical formulation for the characterization of 
        radio wave propagation as a function of frequency, distance, 
        and other conditions.
            ``(11) Provider.--The term `provider' means a provider of 
        fixed or mobile broadband internet access service.
            ``(12) Quality of service.--The term `quality of service' 
        means information regarding offered download and upload speeds 
        and latency of a provider's broadband internet access service 
        as determined by and to the extent otherwise collected by the 
        Commission.
            ``(13) Shapefile.--The term `shapefile' means a digital 
        storage format containing geospatial or location-based data and 
        attribute information--
                    ``(A) regarding the availability of broadband 
                internet access service; and
                    ``(B) that can be viewed, edited, and mapped in 
                geographic information system software.
            ``(14) Standard broadband installation.--The term `standard 
        broadband installation'--
                    ``(A) means the initiation by a provider of fixed 
                broadband internet access service in an area where the 
                provider has not previously offered that service, with 
                no charges or delays attributable to the extension of 
                the network of the provider; and
                    ``(B) includes the initiation of fixed broadband 
                internet access service through routine installation 
                that can be completed not later than 10 business days 
                after the date on which the service request is 
                submitted.

``SEC. 802. BROADBAND MAPS.

    ``(a) Rules.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this title, the Commission shall issue rules 
        that shall--
                    ``(A) require the collection and dissemination of 
                granular data, as determined by the Commission--
                            ``(i) relating to the availability and 
                        quality of service of terrestrial fixed, fixed 
                        wireless, satellite, and mobile broadband 
                        internet access service; and
                            ``(ii) that the Commission shall use to 
                        compile the maps created under subsection 
                        (c)(1) (referred to in this section as 
                        `coverage maps'), which the Commission shall 
                        make publicly available; and
                    ``(B) establish--
                            ``(i) processes through which the 
                        Commission can verify the accuracy of data 
                        submitted under subsection (b)(2);
                            ``(ii) processes and procedures through 
                        which the Commission, and, as necessary, other 
                        entities or persons submitting non-public or 
                        competitively sensitive information under this 
                        title, can protect the security, privacy, and 
                        confidentiality of such non-public or 
                        competitively sensitive information, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) information contained in the 
                                Fabric;
                                    ``(II) the dataset created under 
                                subsection (b)(1)(A) supporting the 
                                Fabric; and
                                    ``(III) the data submitted under 
                                subsection (b)(2);
                            ``(iii) the challenge process described in 
                        subsection (b)(5); and
                            ``(iv) the process described in section 
                        803(b).
            ``(2) Other data.--In issuing the rules under paragraph 
        (1), the Commission shall develop a process through which the 
        Commission can collect verified data for use in the coverage 
        maps from--
                    ``(A) State, local, and Tribal governmental 
                entities that are primarily responsible for mapping or 
                tracking broadband internet access service coverage for 
                a State, unit of local government, or Indian Tribe, as 
                applicable;
                    ``(B) third parties, including industry analysis, 
                mapping, or tracking of broadband internet access 
                service coverage and quality of service, if the 
                Commission determines that it is in the public interest 
                to use such data in--
                            ``(i) the development of the coverage maps; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) the verification of data submitted 
                        under subsection (b); and
                    ``(C) other Federal agencies.
            ``(3) Updates.--The Commission shall revise the rules 
        issued under paragraph (1) to--
                    ``(A) reflect changes in technology;
                    ``(B) ensure the accuracy of propagation models, as 
                further provided in subsection (b)(3); and
                    ``(C) improve the usefulness of the coverage maps.
    ``(b) Content of Rules.--
            ``(1) Establishment of a serviceable location fabric 
        regarding fixed broadband.--
                    ``(A) Dataset.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Commission shall 
                        create a common dataset of all locations in the 
                        United States where fixed broadband internet 
                        access service can be installed, as determined 
                        by the Commission.
                            ``(ii) Contracting.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Subject to 
                                subclauses (II) and (III), the 
                                Commission may only contract with an 
                                entity with expertise with respect to 
                                geographic information systems 
                                (referred to in this subsection as 
                                `GIS') to create and maintain the 
                                dataset under clause (i).
                                    ``(II) Application of the federal 
                                acquisition regulation.--A contract 
                                into which the Commission enters under 
                                subclause (I) shall in all respects 
                                comply with applicable provisions of 
                                the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
                                    ``(III) Limitations.--With respect 
                                to a contract into which the Commission 
                                enters under subclause (I)--
                                            ``(aa) the entity with 
                                        which the Commission contracts 
                                        shall be selected through a 
                                        competitive bid process that is 
                                        transparent and open;
                                            ``(bb) the contract shall 
                                        be for a term of not longer 
                                        than 5 years, after which the 
                                        Commission may enter into a new 
                                        contract--

                                                    ``(AA) with an 
                                                entity, and for the 
                                                purposes, described in 
                                                clause (i); and

                                                    ``(BB) that 
                                                complies with the 
                                                requirements under 
                                                subclause (II) and this 
                                                subclause; and

                                            ``(cc) the contract shall 
                                        prohibit the entity with which 
                                        the Commission contracts (and 
                                        require such entity to include 
                                        in any contract with any other 
                                        entity with which such entity 
                                        contracts a provision 
                                        prohibiting such other entity) 
                                        from selling, leasing, or 
                                        otherwise disclosing for 
                                        monetary consideration any 
                                        personally identifiable 
                                        information to any entity other 
                                        than for purposes authorized 
                                        under this title.
                    ``(B) Fabric.--The rules issued by the Commission 
                under subsection (a)(1) shall establish the Broadband 
                Serviceable Location Fabric, which shall--
                            ``(i) contain geocoded information for each 
                        location identified under subparagraph (A)(i);
                            ``(ii) serve as the foundation upon which 
                        all data relating to the availability of fixed 
                        broadband internet access service collected 
                        under paragraph (2)(A) shall be reported and 
                        overlaid;
                            ``(iii) be compatible with commonly used 
                        GIS software; and
                            ``(iv) at a minimum, be updated every 6 
                        months by the Commission.
                    ``(C) Implementation priority.--The Commission 
                shall prioritize implementing the Fabric for rural and 
                insular areas of the United States.
            ``(2) Collection of information.--The rules issued by the 
        Commission under subsection (a)(1) shall include uniform 
        standards for the reporting of broadband internet access 
        service data that the Commission shall collect--
                    ``(A) from each provider of terrestrial fixed, 
                fixed wireless, or satellite broadband internet access 
                service, which shall include data that--
                            ``(i) documents the areas where the 
                        provider--
                                    ``(I) has actually built out the 
                                broadband network infrastructure of the 
                                provider such that the provider is able 
                                to provide that service; and
                                    ``(II) could provide that service, 
                                as determined by identifying where the 
                                provider is capable of performing a 
                                standard broadband installation, if 
                                applicable;
                            ``(ii) includes information regarding 
                        download and upload speeds, at various 
                        thresholds established by the Commission, and, 
                        if applicable, latency with respect to 
                        broadband internet access service that the 
                        provider makes available;
                            ``(iii) can be georeferenced to the GIS 
                        data in the Fabric;
                            ``(iv) the provider shall report as--
                                    ``(I) with respect to providers of 
                                fixed wireless broadband internet 
                                access service--
                                            ``(aa) propagation maps and 
                                        propagation model details 
                                        that--

                                                    ``(AA) satisfy 
                                                standards that are 
                                                similar to those 
                                                applicable to providers 
                                                of mobile broadband 
                                                internet access service 
                                                under subparagraph (B) 
                                                with respect to 
                                                propagation maps and 
                                                propagation model 
                                                details, taking into 
                                                account material 
                                                differences between 
                                                fixed wireless and 
                                                mobile broadband 
                                                internet access 
                                                service; and

                                                    ``(BB) reflect the 
                                                speeds and latency of 
                                                the service provided by 
                                                the provider; or

                                            ``(bb) a list of addresses 
                                        or locations that constitute 
                                        the service area of the 
                                        provider, except that the 
                                        Commission--

                                                    ``(AA) may only 
                                                permit, and not 
                                                require, a provider to 
                                                report the data using 
                                                that means of 
                                                reporting; and

                                                    ``(BB) in the rules 
                                                issued under subsection 
                                                (a)(1), shall provide a 
                                                method for using that 
                                                means of reporting with 
                                                respect to Tribal 
                                                areas; and

                                    ``(II) with respect to providers of 
                                terrestrial fixed and satellite 
                                broadband internet access service--
                                            ``(aa) polygon shapefiles; 
                                        or
                                            ``(bb) a list of addresses 
                                        or locations that constitute 
                                        the service area of the 
                                        provider, except that the 
                                        Commission--

                                                    ``(AA) may only 
                                                permit, and not 
                                                require, a provider to 
                                                report the data using 
                                                that means of 
                                                reporting; and

                                                    ``(BB) in the rules 
                                                issued under subsection 
                                                (a)(1), shall provide a 
                                                method for using that 
                                                means of reporting with 
                                                respect to Tribal 
                                                areas; and

                            ``(v) the Commission determines is 
                        appropriate with respect to certain 
                        technologies in order to ensure that the 
                        Broadband Map is granular and accurate; and
                    ``(B) from each provider of mobile broadband 
                internet access service, which shall include 
                propagation maps, and propagation model details, that 
                indicate the current (as of the date on which the 
                information is collected) fourth generation Long-Term 
                Evolution (commonly referred to as `4G LTE') mobile 
                broadband internet access service coverage of the 
                provider, which shall--
                            ``(i) take into consideration the effect of 
                        clutter; and
                            ``(ii) satisfy--
                                    ``(I) the requirements of having--
                                            ``(aa) a download speed of 
                                        not less than 5 megabits per 
                                        second and an upload speed of 
                                        not less than 1 megabit per 
                                        second with a cell edge 
                                        probability of not less than 90 
                                        percent; and
                                            ``(bb) cell loading of not 
                                        less than 50 percent; and
                                    ``(II) any other parameter that the 
                                Commission determines to be necessary 
                                to create a map under subsection 
                                (c)(1)(C) that is more precise than the 
                                map produced as a result of the 
                                submissions under the Mobility Fund 
                                Phase II information collection.
            ``(3) Update of reporting standards for mobile broadband 
        internet access service.--For the purposes of paragraph (2)(B), 
        if the Commission determines that the reporting standards under 
        that paragraph are insufficient to collect accurate propagation 
        maps and propagation model details with respect to future 
        generations of mobile broadband internet access service 
        technologies, the Commission shall immediately commence a 
        rulemaking to adopt new reporting standards with respect to 
        those technologies that--
                    ``(A) shall be the functional equivalent of the 
                standards required under paragraph (2)(B); and
                    ``(B) allow for the collection of propagation maps 
                and propagation model details that are as accurate and 
                granular as, or more accurate and granular than, the 
                maps and model details collected by the Commission 
                under paragraph (2)(B).
            ``(4) Certification and verification.--With respect to a 
        provider that submits information to the Commission under 
        paragraph (2)--
                    ``(A) the provider shall include in each submission 
                a certification from a corporate officer of the 
                provider that the officer has examined the information 
                contained in the submission and that, to the best of 
                the officer's actual knowledge, information, and 
                belief, all statements of fact contained in the 
                submission are true and correct; and
                    ``(B) the Commission shall verify the accuracy and 
                reliability of the information in accordance with 
                measures established by the Commission.
            ``(5) Challenge process.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the rules issued under 
                subsection (a)(1), and subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Commission shall establish a user-friendly challenge 
                process through which consumers, State, local, and 
                Tribal governmental entities, and other entities or 
                persons may submit coverage data to the Commission to 
                challenge the accuracy of--
                            ``(i) the coverage maps;
                            ``(ii) any information submitted by a 
                        provider regarding the availability of 
                        broadband internet access service; or
                            ``(iii) the information included in the 
                        Fabric.
                    ``(B) Considerations; verification; response to 
                challenges.--In establishing the challenge process 
                required under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall--
                            ``(i) consider--
                                    ``(I) the types of information that 
                                an entity or person submitting a 
                                challenge should provide to the 
                                Commission in support of the challenge;
                                    ``(II) the appropriate level of 
                                granularity for the information 
                                described in subclause (I);
                                    ``(III) the need to mitigate the 
                                time and expense incurred by, and the 
                                administrative burdens placed on, 
                                entities or persons in--
                                            ``(aa) challenging the 
                                        accuracy of a coverage map; and
                                            ``(bb) responding to 
                                        challenges described in item 
                                        (aa);
                                    ``(IV) the costs to consumers and 
                                providers resulting from a 
                                misallocation of funds because of a 
                                reliance on outdated or otherwise 
                                inaccurate information in the coverage 
                                maps;
                                    ``(V) any lessons learned from the 
                                challenge process established under 
                                Mobility Fund Phase II, as determined 
                                from comments solicited by the 
                                Commission; and
                                    ``(VI) the need for user-friendly 
                                challenge submission formats that will 
                                promote participation in the challenge 
                                process;
                            ``(ii) include a process for verifying the 
                        data submitted through the challenge process in 
                        order to ensure the reliability of that data;
                            ``(iii) allow providers to respond to 
                        challenges submitted through the challenge 
                        process; and
                            ``(iv) develop an online mechanism, which--
                                    ``(I) shall be integrated into the 
                                coverage maps;
                                    ``(II) allows for an entity or 
                                person described in subparagraph (A) to 
                                submit a challenge under the challenge 
                                process;
                                    ``(III) makes challenge data 
                                available in both geographic 
                                information system and non-geographic 
                                information system formats; and
                                    ``(IV) clearly identifies the areas 
                                in which broadband internet access 
                                service is available, and the upload 
                                and download speeds at which that 
                                service is available, as reported to 
                                the Commission under this section.
                    ``(C) Use of challenges.--The rules issued to 
                establish the challenge process under subparagraph (A) 
                shall include--
                            ``(i) a process for the speedy resolution 
                        of challenges; and
                            ``(ii) a process for the regular and 
                        expeditious updating of the coverage maps and 
                        granular data the Commission disseminates as 
                        challenges are resolved.
                    ``(D) Automation tool.--Not earlier than 1 year 
                after, and not later than 18 months after, the rules 
                issued under subsection (a)(1) are implemented, the 
                Commission shall, after an opportunity for notice and 
                comment, submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
                of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
                report that--
                            ``(i) evaluates the challenge process; and
                            ``(ii) considers whether the Commission 
                        should amend its rules to create an automated 
                        tool that includes predictive capabilities to 
                        identify potential inaccuracies and features 
                        that allow a provider of broadband internet 
                        access service, the Commission, and the public 
                        to visualize the data relating to broadband 
                        internet access service that the provider 
                        reports in order to improve the accuracy of the 
                        data submitted by the provider.
            ``(6) Reform of form 477 process.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date on which the rules issued under subsection 
                (a)(1) take effect, the Commission shall--
                            ``(i) reform the Form 477 broadband 
                        deployment service availability collection 
                        process of the Commission to achieve the 
                        purposes of this title and in a manner that 
                        enables the comparison of data and maps 
                        produced before the implementation of this 
                        title with data and coverage maps produced 
                        after the implementation of this title and 
                        maintains the public availability of broadband 
                        deployment service availability data; and
                            ``(ii) harmonize reporting requirements and 
                        procedures regarding the deployment of 
                        broadband internet access service that, as of 
                        the date on which the rules issued under 
                        subsection (a)(1) take effect, are in effect.
                    ``(B) Continued collection and reporting.--On and 
                after the date on which the Commission carries out 
                subparagraph (A), the Commission shall continue to 
                collect and publicly report subscription data that the 
                Commission collected through the Form 477 broadband 
                deployment service availability collection process, as 
                in effect on July 1, 2019.
    ``(c) Maps.--The Commission shall--
            ``(1) after consulting with the Federal Geographic Data 
        Committee established by section 753(a) of the Geospatial Data 
        Act of 2018 (43 U.S.C. 2802(a)), create--
                    ``(A) the Broadband Map, which shall depict--
                            ``(i) the extent of the availability of 
                        broadband internet access service in the United 
                        States, without regard to whether that service 
                        is fixed broadband internet access service or 
                        mobile broadband internet access service, which 
                        shall be based on data collected by the 
                        Commission from all providers; and
                            ``(ii) the areas of the United States that 
                        remain unserved by providers;
                    ``(B) a map that depicts the availability of fixed 
                broadband internet access service, which shall be based 
                on data collected by the Commission from providers 
                under subsection (b)(2)(A); and
                    ``(C) a map that depicts the availability of mobile 
                broadband internet access service, which shall be based 
                on data collected by the Commission from providers 
                under subsection (b)(2)(B);
            ``(2) use the maps created under paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) to determine the areas in which terrestrial 
                fixed, fixed wireless, mobile, and satellite broadband 
                internet access service is and is not available; and
                    ``(B) when making any new award of funding with 
                respect to the deployment of broadband internet access 
                service;
            ``(3) update the maps created under paragraph (1) not less 
        frequently than biannually using the most recent data collected 
        from providers under subsection (b)(2);
            ``(4) make available to all Federal agencies, upon request, 
        the maps created under paragraph (1);
            ``(5) establish a process to make the data collected under 
        subsection (b)(2) available to the National Telecommunications 
        and Information Administration; and
            ``(6) make public at an appropriate level of granularity--
                    ``(A) the maps created under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) the data collected by the Commission with 
                respect to broadband internet access service 
                availability and quality of service.
    ``(d) Delayed Effective Date of Quality of Service Rules.--Any 
requirement of a rule relating to quality of service issued under 
subsection (a)(1) shall take effect not earlier than the date that is 
180 days after the date on which the Commission issues such rule.

``SEC. 803. IMPROVING DATA ACCURACY.

    ``(a) Audits.--The Commission shall conduct regular audits of 
information submitted to the Commission by providers under section 
802(b)(2) to ensure that the providers are complying with this title.
    ``(b) Crowdsourcing.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall--
                    ``(A) develop a process through which entities or 
                persons in the United States may submit specific 
                information about the deployment and availability of 
                broadband internet access service in the United States 
                on an ongoing basis so that the information may be used 
                to verify and supplement information provided by 
                providers of broadband internet access service for 
                inclusion in the maps created under section 802(c)(1); 
                and
                    ``(B) update the maps created under section 
                802(c)(1) on no less than an annual cycle based on the 
                information received through such process.
            ``(2) Collaboration.--As part of the efforts of the 
        Commission to facilitate the ability of entities or persons to 
        submit information under paragraph (1), the Commission shall--
                    ``(A) prioritize the consideration of data provided 
                by data collection applications used by consumers that 
                the Commission has determined--
                            ``(i) are highly reliable; and
                            ``(ii) have proven methodologies for 
                        determining network coverage and network 
                        performance; and
                    ``(B) coordinate with the Postmaster General, or 
                the heads of other Federal agencies that operate 
                delivery fleet vehicles, to facilitate the submission 
                of specific information by the United States Postal 
                Service or such other agencies under paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Technical Assistance to Indian Tribes.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission 
        shall hold annual workshops for Tribal governments to provide 
        technical assistance with the collection and submission of data 
        under section 802(a)(2)(A).
            ``(2) Annual review.--Each year, the Commission, in 
        consultation with Indian Tribes, shall review the need for 
        continued workshops required under paragraph (1).
    ``(d) Technical Assistance to Small Service Providers.--The 
Commission shall establish a process through which a provider that has 
fewer than 100,000 active broadband internet access service connections 
may request and receive assistance from the Commission with respect to 
geographic information system data processing to ensure that the 
provider is able to comply with the rules issued under section 
802(a)(1) in a timely and accurate manner.
    ``(e) GAO Assessment of Fabric Source Data.--
            ``(1) Assessment.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct an assessment of key data sources that are 
        used for purposes of the Fabric to identify and geocode 
        locations where fixed broadband internet access service can be 
        installed, in order to develop recommendations for how the 
        quality and completeness of such data sources can be improved 
        as data sources for the Fabric. Data sources to be assessed 
        shall include any sources of relevant Federal data, including 
        the National Address Database administered by the Department of 
        Transportation, State- and county-level digitized parcel data, 
        and property tax record tax attribute recording.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this title, the Comptroller General shall submit 
        to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report containing the 
        recommendations developed in the assessment under paragraph 
        (1).
    ``(f) Technical Assistance to Consumers and State, Local, and 
Tribal Governmental Entities.--The Commission shall provide technical 
assistance to consumers and State, local, and Tribal governmental 
entities with respect to the challenge process established under 
section 802(b)(5), which shall include--
            ``(1) detailed tutorials and webinars; and
            ``(2) making available staff of the Commission to provide 
        assistance, as needed, throughout the entirety of the challenge 
        process.

``SEC. 804. COST.

    ``(a) Limitation.--The Commission may not use funds from the 
universal service programs of the Commission established under section 
254, and the regulations issued under that section, to carry out this 
title.
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission to carry out this title--
            ``(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
            ``(2) $9,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 
        2028.

``SEC. 805. OTHER PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) OMB.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the initial 
rulemaking required under section 802(a)(1) shall be exempt from review 
by the Office of Management and Budget.
    ``(b) PRA.--Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly 
known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act') shall not apply to the initial 
rulemaking required under section 802(a)(1).
    ``(c) Execution of Responsibilities.--Except, with respect to an 
entity that is not the Universal Service Administrative Company, as 
provided in sections 802(a)(2)(B), 802(b)(1)(A)(ii), and 803(d), the 
Commission--
            ``(1) including the offices of the Commission, shall carry 
        out the responsibilities assigned to the Commission under this 
        title; and
            ``(2) may not delegate any of the responsibilities assigned 
        to the Commission under this title to any third party, 
        including the Universal Service Administrative Company.
    ``(d) Reporting.--Each fiscal year, the Commission 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 that summarizes the implementation of this 
title and associated enforcement activities conducted during the 
previous fiscal year.''.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 279

116th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 4229

                          [Report No. 116-350]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To require the Federal Communications Commission to issue rules 
relating to the collection of data with respect to the availability of 
              broadband services, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           December 16, 2019

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed