[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4642-S4643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3234. Mr. DAINES (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3224 proposed by Mr. 
Roberts (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) to the bill H.R. 2, to provide 
for

[[Page S4643]]

the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the 
Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle B of title VI, add the following:

     SEC. 62__. USE OF ASSISTANCE FOR DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND 
                   INFRASTRUCTURE.

       Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
     950bb et seq.) (as amended by section 6208) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 606. USE OF ASSISTANCE FOR DEPLOYMENT OF BROADBAND 
                   INFRASTRUCTURE.

       ``(a) Definition of Qualifying Broadband-capable 
     Infrastructure.--In this section, the term `qualifying 
     broadband-capable infrastructure' means fixed broadband-
     capable infrastructure--
       ``(1) used by a service provider to provide fixed broadband 
     service for which the service provider receives universal 
     service support under section 254 of the Communications Act 
     of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254), if--
       ``(A) the broadband service satisfies any applicable 
     broadband speed standards under that section and the 
     regulations issued under that section; or
       ``(B) the service provider is in compliance with buildout 
     obligations to provide retail fixed broadband service that 
     will comply with applicable broadband speed standards 
     described in subparagraph (A); or
       ``(2) that--
       ``(A) was financed with funds provided by the Secretary 
     under this Act or any other program carried out by the 
     Secretary for the costs of the construction, improvement, or 
     acquisition of facilities or equipment for the purpose of 
     providing fixed telecommunications or broadband service; and
       ``(B)(i) is used to provide fixed broadband service, if--
       ``(I) the broadband service satisfies any applicable 
     broadband speed standards established by the Secretary; or
       ``(II) the service provider is in compliance with buildout 
     obligations to provide retail fixed broadband service that 
     will comply with applicable broadband speed standards 
     described in subclause (I); or
       ``(ii) was financed with a loan under this Act or any other 
     program carried out by the Secretary that remains 
     outstanding.
       ``(b) Restriction on Use of Assistance.--A loan, grant, or 
     other assistance awarded under this Act, or by the rural 
     development mission area under the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.), may not be 
     used to coordinate, approve, or finance the deployment of 
     broadband-capable infrastructure by a service provider to 
     provide retail fixed broadband service that would overbuild 
     or otherwise duplicate qualifying broadband-capable 
     infrastructure that another service provider is using to 
     provide retail fixed broadband service in the same area.
       ``(c) Use of Assistance in Unserved Areas.--A loan, grant, 
     or other assistance provided by the Secretary, acting through 
     the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, to 
     coordinate, approve, or finance the deployment of broadband-
     capable infrastructure by a service provider may be used to 
     provide retail fixed broadband service in an area in which 
     there is no qualifying broadband-capable infrastructure owned 
     or operated by another service provider.''.
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