[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.

                          ____________________