[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1485 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1485

To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband 
         internet access coverage data, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 15, 2019

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband 
         internet access coverage data, 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 ``Map Improvement Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
        National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
            (2) Broadband internet access service.--The term 
        ``broadband internet access service''--
                    (A) means 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, but excluding dial-up internet 
                access service;
                    (B) includes any service that the Commission finds 
                to be providing a functional equivalent of the service 
                described in subparagraph (A) or that is used to evade 
                the protections set forth in part 8 of title 47, Code 
                of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto; and
                    (C) does not include dial-up internet access 
                service.
            (3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (4) End user.--The term ``end user'' means any individual 
        or entity that uses a broadband internet access service.
            (5) Fixed broadband internet access service.--The term 
        ``fixed broadband internet access service'' means--
                    (A) a broadband internet access service that serves 
                end users primarily at fixed endpoints using stationary 
                equipment; and
                    (B) includes fixed wireless services, including 
                fixed unlicensed wireless services, and fixed satellite 
                services.
            (6) GIS.--The term ``GIS'' means geographic information 
        systems.
            (7) Mobile broadband internet access service.--The term 
        ``mobile broadband internet access service'' has the meaning 
        given the term ``commercial mobile service'' in section 
        332(d)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
        332(d)(1)).

SEC. 3. COLLECTION AND MAPPING OF FIXED AND MOBILE BROADBAND INTERNET 
              ACCESS COVERAGE.

    (a) Standardized Methodology Rule.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the 
        National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
        shall promulgate a final rule to establish a standardized 
        methodology for collecting and mapping accurate fixed and 
        mobile broadband internet access service coverage data in the 
        United States, which shall--
                    (A) ensure that coverage data for fixed and mobile 
                broadband internet access services is collected in a 
                standardized, consistent, and robust manner;
                    (B) improve the validity and reliability of 
                coverage data;
                    (C) increase the efficiency of coverage data 
                collection;
                    (D) contain standard definitions for different 
                speed tiers, such as the 2G, 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE tiers 
                and the equivalent for fixed broadband internet access 
                service;
                    (E) ensure that the collection and validation 
                process occurs on a regular basis; and
                    (F) establish a standardized ongoing validation 
                process and public feedback mechanism that will allow 
                for consumers, State and local officials, and carriers 
                to submit data to the Commission to verify coverage 
                data from carriers and challenge any areas they feel 
                are misrepresented.
            (2) Considerations.--In promulgating the rule required 
        under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider--
                    (A) coordinating with the United States Postal 
                Service, other Federal delivery fleet vehicles, and the 
                Bureau of the Census for assistance with data 
                collection and the feasibility of using more granular 
                address level data; and
                    (B) creating 1 centralized national map with 
                multiple layers, including a layer each for fixed 
                broadband internet access service and mobile broadband 
                internet access service, which shall be used in 
                determining eligibility for all Federal broadband 
                internet access grant, loan, and subsidy programs.
            (3) Establishment of office.--The Commission shall 
        establish an Office of Broadband Data Collection and Mapping 
        within the Commission to serve as the central point of 
        collection, aggregation, and validation of data collected under 
        the standardized methodology established under this subsection.
    (b) Technical Assistance Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a 
        technical assistance program under which the Administration 
        shall provide grants to State and local entities, such as 
        regional planning organizations, to--
                    (A) assist with mapping and the development of a 
                GIS-based map of existing serviceability for fixed and 
                mobile broadband internet access service; and
                    (B) assess current broadband internet access 
                service adoption rates and advertised broadband 
                internet access service pricing in the community.
            (2) Use of funds.--Funds received under this subsection--
                    (A) shall be used to participate in the 
                standardized ongoing validation process and public 
                feedback mechanism described in subsection (a)(1)(F); 
                and
                    (B) may be used to purchase GIS software and for 
                technical assistance with that software.
            (3) Other uses for gis software.--A regional planning 
        organization may use GIS software acquired using funds received 
        under this subsection for other purposes in addition to 
        broadband internet access service mapping.
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