[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 123 (Monday, July 23, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H6608-H6610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ADVANCING CRITICAL CONNECTIVITY EXPANDS SERVICE, SMALL BUSINESS 
 RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS, AND DATA BASED ON ASSESSED NEED AND 
                               DEMAND ACT

  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3994) to establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and 
Growth, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3994

       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 ``Advancing Critical 
     Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, 
     Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and 
     Demand Act'' or the ``ACCESS BROADBAND Act''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF INTERNET CONNECTIVITY 
                   AND GROWTH.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish the Office 
     of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National 
     Telecommunications and Information Administration.

     SEC. 3. DUTIES.

       (a) Outreach.--The Office shall--
       (1) connect with communities that need access to high-speed 
     internet and improved digital inclusion efforts through 
     various forms of outreach and communication techniques;
       (2) hold regional workshops across the country to share 
     best practices and effective strategies for promoting 
     broadband access and adoption;
       (3) develop targeted broadband training and presentations 
     for various demographic communities through various media; 
     and
       (4) develop and distribute publications (including 
     toolkits, primers, manuals, and white papers) providing 
     guidance, strategies, and insights to communities as the 
     communities develop strategies to expand broadband access and 
     adoption.
       (b) Tracking of Federal Dollars.--
       (1) Broadband infrastructure.--The Office shall track the 
     construction and use of and access to any broadband 
     infrastructure built using any Federal support in a central 
     database.
       (2) Accounting mechanism.--The Office shall develop a 
     streamlined accounting mechanism by which any agency offering 
     a Federal broadband support program and the Commission 
     through the Universal Service Fund shall provide the 
     information described in paragraph (1) in a standardized and 
     efficient fashion.
       (3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, the Office 
     shall make public on the website of the Office and 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 on the following:
       (A) A description of the work of the Office for the 
     previous year and the number of residents of the United 
     States that received broadband as result of Federal broadband 
     support programs and the Universal Service Fund program.
       (B) A description of how many residents of the United 
     States were provided broadband by which universal service 
     mechanism or which Federal broadband support program.
       (C) An estimate of the economic impact of such broadband 
     deployment efforts on the local economy, including any effect 
     on small businesses or jobs.

     SEC. 4. STREAMLINED APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORT.

       (a) Agency Consultation.--The Office shall consult with any 
     agency offering a Federal broadband support program to 
     streamline and standardize the applications process for 
     financial assistance or grants for such program.
       (b) Agency Streamlining.--Any agency offering a Federal 
     broadband support program shall amend their applications for 
     broadband support, to the extent practicable and as 
     necessary, to streamline and standardize applications for 
     Federal broadband support programs across the Government.
       (c) Single Application.--To the greatest extent 
     practicable, the Office shall seek to create one application 
     that may be submitted to apply for all, or substantially all, 
     Federal broadband support programs.
       (d) Website Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this

[[Page H6609]]

     Act, the Office shall create a central website through which 
     potential applicants can learn about and apply for support 
     through any Federal broadband support program.

     SEC. 5. COORDINATION OF SUPPORT.

       The Office, any agency that offers a Federal broadband 
     support program, and the Commission through the Universal 
     Service Fund shall coordinate with the Office to ensure that 
     support is being distributed in an efficient, technology-
     neutral, and financially sustainable manner, with the goal of 
     serving the largest number of persons in the United States 
     while avoiding overbuilding and promoting the most job and 
     economic growth for all residents of the United States.

     SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that 
     term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
       (2) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' 
     means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
     and Information.
       (3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Communications Commission.
       (4) Federal broadband support program.--The term ``Federal 
     broadband support program'' does not include any Universal 
     Service Fund program and means any of the following programs 
     (or any other similar Federal program) to the extent the 
     program offers broadband internet service or programs for 
     promoting broadband access and adoption for various 
     demographic communities through various media for 
     residential, commercial, community providers, or academic 
     establishments:
       (A) The Telecommunications and Technology Program of the 
     Appalachian Regional Commission.
       (B) The Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan 
     Guarantees, the Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan 
     Guarantees, the Substantially Underserved Trust Areas 
     Provisions, the Community Connect Grant Program, and the 
     Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program of the Rural 
     Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture.
       (C) The Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance 
     Programs and the Planning and Local Technical Assistance 
     Programs of the Economic Development Administration of the 
     Department of Commerce.
       (D) The Community Development Block Grants and Section 108 
     Loan Guarantees, the Funds for Public Housing Authorities: 
     Capital Fund and Operating Fund, the Multifamily Housing, the 
     Indian Community Development Block Grant Program, the Indian 
     Housing Block Grant Program, the Title VI Loan Guarantee 
     Program, Choice Neighborhoods, the HOME Investment 
     Partnerships Program, the Housing Trust Fund, and the Housing 
     Opportunities for Persons with AIDS of the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development.
       (E) The American Job Centers of the Employment and Training 
     Administration of the Department of Labor.
       (F) The Library Services and Technology Grant Programs of 
     the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
       (5) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of 
     Internet Connectivity and Growth established pursuant to 
     section 2.
       (6) Universal service fund program.--The term ``Universal 
     Service Fund program'' means any program authorized under 
     section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) 
     to help deploy broadband.
       (7) Universal service mechanism.--The term ``universal 
     service mechanism'' means any funding stream provided by a 
     Universal Service Fund program to support broadband access.

     SEC. 7. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act. This Act shall be carried out using 
     amounts otherwise authorized.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Lance) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             general leave

  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert 
extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the ACCESS BROADBAND Act, 
which Congressman Tonko and I introduced last year. This bill would 
streamline the Federal grant programs related to broadband deployment, 
and track how Federal funds are used to a greater extent than is now 
the case. I thank Congressman Tonko for his leadership on this 
important issue.
  Broadband internet is the lifeblood of the American economy, a 
critical tool for students, and an incubator for the next great 
innovation. This bill takes the right steps to ensure Federal broadband 
resources are working to expand access in underserved areas.
  Being able to have access to the internet means being able to unlock 
tremendous potential, and we have to make sure that all Americans share 
in this success. Many local economies are relying on Congress to get 
this right.
  In many areas of the country, the cost to deploy broadband 
infrastructure is prohibitive, which creates a need for Federal funding 
in cases where a market solution is not possible.
  With several different broadband support programs across several 
Federal agencies, there is no single, comprehensive system tracking 
where and how Federal funds are being spent.
  Access broadband creates an office within the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, with the task of 
simplifying the application process for the various support programs, 
coordinating between the various agencies, and tracking the use and 
effectiveness of Federal broadband funding.
  By ensuring coordination, the office will help prevent overbuilding 
of broadband and make sure Federal funds are going where they are 
needed most, which should be unserved and underserved areas of the 
country.
  This bill and the other bills we have been considering reflect the 
broad and encompassing jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce 
Committee and the important day-to-day work and oversight we maintain 
over a significant portion of the Federal Government.
  This type of work counts and these bills are important. Energy and 
Commerce accomplishments like reauthorizing the successful CHIP 
program, the Ray Baums Act, safely disposing of nuclear waste, and 
improving consumer protections, have been the pillars of our 
accomplishments this Congress, and this has occurred in a bipartisan 
capacity.
  Bills like the ones we are considering today, keep the wheels of many 
critical government functions moving. The ACCESS BROADBAND bill is 
excellent legislation and will improve broadband for many Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 3994, the Advancing Critical 
Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, 
Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act, or in short, 
ACCESS BROADBAND Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and ranking member for moving this 
measure forward, and offer special thanks to my friend, Representative 
Lance, for partnering with me on this legislation. I also thank the 
bipartisan group of Members who have cosponsored this legislation, 
including 14 members of the Energy and Commerce Committee who have 
worked together and who agree that these are vital steps worth taking.
  This bill is about serving the people. My own constituents continue 
to reach out about their limitations of access to broadband internet 
throughout the capital region. Some of these areas are rural and many 
are underserved and unserved entirely.
  Other areas are underserved with a few houses having access, while 
many others are left with no affordable options in sight.

                              {time}  1530

  Constituents ask: When will we get access? What about western 
Schenectady County? What about Amsterdam? What about Berne? What about 
Fort Johnson? What about western Saratoga County in the 20th 
Congressional District?
  I have heard from doctors who depend on broadband internet to read X-
rays when they are on call. I hear from librarians who find students 
sitting in the library parking lot after hours so that they can access 
the internet and finish their homework assignments. I hear from workers 
who are forced to leave home to find high enough internet speed that 
they can upload or download large files. They all ask: When will we 
have access?
  As a Congress, we owe these folk an answer. A lack of access to 
broadband internet in the capital region is one of many reasons I 
pushed to join the Energy and Commerce Committee and

[[Page H6610]]

why I have worked to advance this legislation.
  This bill is the first part of that answer. H.R. 3994, the Advancing 
Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, 
Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act, 
the ACCESS BROADBAND Act, would establish a coordinating office for 
Federal broadband resources.
  It would use existing resources to streamline management of Federal 
broadband resources across multiple agencies and simplify the process 
for small businesses and local economic developers to access them.
  Currently, there is no comprehensive system that tracks where Federal 
dollars are going and how the funding is impacting communities. 
Investments are made with little accountability and oversight on behalf 
of the taxpayer.
  ACCESS BROADBAND, as an act, would begin to address the issues. This 
bill would track Federal broadband dollars and streamline management of 
Federal broadband resources across multiple agencies. Most notably, it 
would simplify the process for small businesses and local economic 
developers to access them.
  There is still much more work to be done on this issue. I do hope 
that this can serve as a starting place for us to open doors of 
opportunity and access for the millions of Americans who require the 
better and improved outcomes by investing in broadband expansion.
  I thank all of the members and staff working together on ACCESS 
BROADBAND, helping ensure that our communities can access the broadband 
resources they need to grow and to prosper.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Carter), who is a member of our committee.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my colleague's bill, the 
ACCESS BROADBAND Act.
  Mr. Tonko's legislation would move to establish an office of Internet 
Connectivity and Growth at the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration to coordinate and track Federal funding for 
broadband across every agency.
  This is important because the Federal Government's grant system can 
oftentimes be confusing and disjointed, making it difficult for 
communities and organizations to find grants they may be eligible for. 
As a result, they may be losing out on opportunities, especially when 
it comes to broadband needs.
  Our rural communities continue to struggle, and one area that has 
been proven to be a boon is access to high-speed internet. By 
encompassing all of these grants into one area, we can help assist 
communities and organizations across the country in their search for 
Federal grant funding.
  Access to broadband is a recipe for growth, allowing people to take 
and create new opportunities that may not have been there before. That 
is why I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers on my side. If the 
other side is ready to close, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3994, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________