[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4438 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4438
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program
to make grants available to States to inform individuals of potential
eligibility for the Lifeline program of the Commission, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 29, 2026
Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, Ms.
Klobuchar, and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following bill; which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program
to make grants available to States to inform individuals of potential
eligibility for the Lifeline program of the Commission, 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 ``Promoting Access to Broadband Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. LIFELINE ENROLLMENT OUTREACH GRANTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(2) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual''
means an individual who--
(A) is an eligible-but-not-enrolled individual; or
(B) has the potential to be a qualifying low-income
consumer under 54.409 of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation, due to the
eligibility of the individual, a dependent of the
individual, or the household of the individual to
receive benefits from or participate in, as applicable,
a program described in such section 54.409.
(3) Eligible-but-not-enrolled individual.--The term
``eligible-but-not-enrolled individual'' means an individual
who is a qualifying low-income consumer under section 54.409 of
title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation, but is not enrolled in the Lifeline program.
(4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 4 of the
Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act
of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).
(5) Lifeline program.--The term ``Lifeline program'' means
the program set forth in subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code
of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(6) Reach.--The term ``reach'' means, with respect to an
individual, to inform the individual of potential eligibility
for the Lifeline program and to provide the individual with
information about the Lifeline program, as described in
subsection (e).
(7) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each Indian
Tribe.
(b) Establishment.--The Commission shall establish a competitive
program to make grants available to States to inform covered
individuals of potential eligibility for the Lifeline program.
(c) Application.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may only award a grant
under this section to a State that submits an application at
such time, in such form, and with such information and
assurances as the Commission may require.
(2) Matters required to be included.--An application
submitted by a State under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) the number of covered individuals in the State;
(B) a plan for the activities that the State will
conduct using grant funds, including a list of each
agency within the State that will assist in carrying
out those activities; and
(C) an estimate of the percentage of eligible-but-
not-enrolled individuals in the State who will be
reached by those activities.
(d) Selection.--
(1) Minimum number of states.--The Commission shall award
grants under this section to not fewer than 25 percent of the
States that submit an application under subsection (c).
(2) Factors for consideration.--In awarding grants under
this section, the Commission shall give favorable consideration
to--
(A) States that have higher numbers of covered
individuals; and
(B) States proposing, in the plans submitted under
subsection (c)(2)(B), to conduct activities that have
the potential to reach higher percentages of eligible-
but-not-enrolled individuals in those States, as
determined by the Commission, taking into consideration
the estimates submitted under subsection (c)(2)(C).
(3) Geographic diversity.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Commission shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, select States from different geographic regions of
the United States.
(e) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this
section shall use grant funds, in accordance with the plan
included in the application of the State under subsection
(c)(2)(B), to--
(A) inform covered individuals and organizations or
agencies that serve covered individuals, as the case
may be under the terms of the grant awarded to the
State, of potential eligibility for the Lifeline
program;
(B) provide covered individuals with information
about the Lifeline program, including--
(i) how to apply for the Lifeline program;
and
(ii) a description of the prohibition on
more than 1 subscriber in each household
receiving a service provided under the Lifeline
program; and
(C) partner with nonprofit and community-based
organizations that have a proven track record of
working with covered individuals in implementing
digital inclusion initiatives to provide covered
individuals with--
(i) assistance applying for the Lifeline
program; and
(ii) information about product and
technology choices.
(2) Multiple state agencies.--A State that receives a grant
under this section may provide grant funds to 1 or more
agencies located within the State, as identified under
subsection (c)(2)(B), to carry out the activities under the
grant.
(f) Outreach to States Regarding Grant Program.--Before accepting
applications for the grant program established under this section, the
Commission shall conduct outreach to States to ensure that States are
aware of the grant program and how to apply for a grant under the grant
program.
(g) Regulations Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations to
implement this section.
(h) Enforcement.--
(1) In general.--A violation of this section or a
regulation promulgated under this section shall be treated as a
violation of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et
seq.) or a regulation promulgated under that Act.
(2) Manner of enforcement.--The Commission shall enforce
this section and the regulations promulgated under this section
in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same
jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms
and provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151
et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this
section.
(i) Exemptions.--
(1) Certain rulemaking requirements.--Section 553 of title
5, United States Code, shall not apply to a regulation
promulgated under this section or a rulemaking proceeding to
promulgate such a regulation.
(2) Paperwork reduction act requirements.--A collection of
information conducted or sponsored under the regulations
required under this section shall not constitute a collection
of information for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 35
of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the
``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
(j) Report to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after establishing
the grant program under this section, the Commission shall
submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the
grant program.
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) the number of individuals notified of Lifeline
program eligibility by States receiving grants under
this section;
(B) the number of new applicants to the Lifeline
program from States receiving grants under this
section, including the number of those applicants who
enrolled in the Lifeline program; and
(C) the cost-effectiveness of the grant program
established under this section.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this section for the first 5 full fiscal years beginning after the
establishment of the grant program under this section.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO STATES TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL LIFELINE ELIGIBILITY
VERIFIER.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
State that, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, submits to the Commission an application for a
grant under this section containing such information as the
Commission may require.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth,
territory, or possession of the United States, and each
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall establish a program to
provide a grant, from amounts appropriated under subsection (e), to
each eligible entity for the purpose described in subsection (c).
(c) Purpose.--The Commission shall make a grant to each eligible
entity for the purpose of establishing, renewing, reestablishing, or
maintaining or amending a connection between the databases of the
eligible entity that contain information concerning the receipt by a
household, or a member of a household, of benefits under a program
administered by the eligible entity (including any benefit provided
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.)) and the National
Lifeline Eligibility Verifier so that the receipt by a household, or a
member of a household, of benefits under the benefits program--
(1) is reflected in the National Lifeline Eligibility
Verifier; and
(2) can be used to verify eligibility for the Lifeline
program set forth in subpart E, part 54, of title 47, Code of
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(d) Disbursement of Grant Funds.--Not later than 120 days after the
date on which the Commission establishes the program under subsection
(b), funds provided under each grant made under that subsection shall
be disbursed to the eligible entity receiving the grant.
(e) Authorization of Appropriation.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
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