[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3488-H3490]
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. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1328) 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. 1328
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:
[[Page H3489]]
(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 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. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act is intended to alter or amend any
provision of section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934
(47 U.S.C. 254).
SEC. 8. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Tonko) and the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 1328, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 1328, 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.
Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank my good friend, Representative
Brooks, for partnering with me on this legislation. I also thank the
bipartisan group of Members who have cosponsored and supported this
legislation, including the many members of the Energy and Commerce
Committee who agree that these simple steps can make a big difference
for the local communities that our Federal broadband programs are meant
for.
Let me be clear: This bill is about serving the people. While a
number of valuable Federal broadband initiatives exist, they are siloed
in different agencies and are not often coordinated with one another.
As a result, the process for local community and business leaders can
be confusing.
H.R. 1328, the ACCESS BROADBAND Act, would establish a coordinating
office for Federal broadband resources by creating an Office of
Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration at the Department of Commerce.
Helping these constituents gain access to broadband internet in the
capital region is one of the reasons I sought to join the Energy and
Commerce Committee and why I have worked to advance this legislation.
Access to high-speed broadband internet service is increasingly
essential. Today, people rely on baseline internet access for banking,
to find a job, to do their homework, to communicate with their doctor
or other healthcare provider, to communicate with their loved ones, to
petition their government, and so much more. Yet, many Americans still
do not have reliable high-speed internet service at home.
While a number of valuable Federal broadband initiatives exist, they
are siloed in different agencies and are not often coordinated with one
another. As a result, the process for local community and business
leaders can be confusing.
H.R. 1328, the Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small
Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed
Need and Demand Act, or ACCESS BROADBAND Act, would establish a
coordinating office.
This new office would hold regional workshops to share best practices
and strategies for supporting local business and community leaders
interested in expanding broadband access and its adoption.
Our bill would also direct the Office of Internet Connectivity and
Growth to consult with any agency offering Federal broadband support to
streamline the application process and, to the greatest extent
practicable, to create one universal application regardless of which
Federal agency or office is involved.
Most importantly, this new office, Mr. Speaker, will be charged with
coordinating broadband support provided by all of our Federal agencies
that are working to solve this problem, including support offered at
the Federal Communications Commission and the Rural
[[Page H3490]]
Utility Service at the Department of Agriculture.
Furthermore, the bill clarifies that nothing in this act would alter
or amend any provision of the section of law that authorizes the FCC's
Universal Service Fund.
H.R. 1328 is an important bill that would indeed help speed up
broadband deployment to unserved and underserved areas and promote
broadband adoption.
There is still much more work to be done on this issue, and I do hope
that this can serve as a starting place for us to open doors of
opportunity and access to millions of Americans by investing in
broadband expansion.
Mr. Speaker, I thank all the Members and staff working together on
ACCESS BROADBAND to help ensure that our communities can access the
broadband resources that they need to grow and prosper.
The ACCESS BROADBAND Act is a bipartisan, commonsense bill, and I
urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1328, the ACCESS
BROADBAND Act. I would also like to take this time to thank my
colleague, Representative Tonko, for asking me to partner on this very
important bill. I thank him and his team for this work.
Why is this bill so important? To put it simply, people in every
State of our country, including Indiana, need better access to the
internet.
This is no surprise to us. Every time I am home, back in the Fifth
District, Hoosiers, particularly from rural areas, tell me they are
afraid of being left behind in the 21st century economy because we
continue to be more and more reliant on technology.
I have spoken to many members of the Indiana Farm Bureau who have
voiced their continued concerns with the level of connectivity in
Indiana and, as we have learned, throughout the country. They cannot
wait and hope for new technology to fix their connectivity problems
that have existed for years.
Additionally, today, more and more schools require homework to be
submitted electronically, tests are taken online, and class notes are
posted on school websites. When students can't access the internet,
they often have to travel to a library daily in order to just keep up
with their studies, or they risk falling behind in their classes.
We can't forget about the impact the internet has had on businesses
of all sizes, especially small businesses. This week is National Small
Business Week, so small businesses from across the country are meeting
with Members of Congress or their staff about the obstacles they face
as they work to grow their businesses.
Each year, these advocates highlight the need for the Federal
Government to better support their efforts. A significant part of that
equation is working to ensure better and faster access to the internet,
no matter where their business is located or no matter how large or
small it is.
When small businesses don't have broadband internet access, their
communities suffer, and they miss opportunities to create new jobs,
drive innovation, and increase our country's global competitiveness.
{time} 1245
For all these reasons and more, we must do more to support our
communities in an age where internet connectivity is crucial to
success.
Indiana has recognized this critical need and has made a commitment
to invest $100 million in supporting broadband access across the State
for underserved areas. This Next Level Connections program is exactly
the kind of idea that the ACCESS BROADBAND Act will help support. By
making Federal resources easier to access, Indiana will be better able
to support its own internet access efforts.
The ACCESS BROADBAND Act is an important step toward eliminating
broadband access difficulties. This bill will require the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration to create an office
to coordinate all the various Federal efforts that support broadband
deployment and access. This office will perform outreach to communities
in every corner of our country to inform them how they can best support
internet access development. It will also require the office to
standardize applications for financial assistance or grants and work to
create a single application for all Federal broadband support programs.
This bill is about bringing the benefits of broadband communications
into the lives of our constituents. I am glad Congress is acting on a
solution to help address this problem faced not only by Hoosiers but
Americans all across the country.
I thank the gentleman from New York, Representative Tonko, once again
for allowing me to partner with him on this important legislation. I
look forward to working with him in the future on similar issues to
ensure that our country and our constituents are wired and ready to
compete.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues in the House to support this
measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
1328. It underscores the very relevance and importance of broadband in
today's society. It speaks to fairness for all communities, certainly
for all households, businesses, and the like. It is a way for us to
offer a greater partnership with government, more effective governance,
with this given phenomenon of technology. I encourage my colleagues to
support that.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1328, 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.
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