HR 2174 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 3, 2007

Mr. SALAZAR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Rural Broadband Initiative Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. OFFICE OF RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVES.

(a) In General- Title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating section 601 as section 603; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting before section 603 the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 601. DEFINITIONS.

`In this title:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) OFFICE- The term `Office' means the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives established by section 602(a)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) UNDER SECRETARY- The term `Under Secretary' means the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives appointed under section 602(a)(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 602. OFFICE OF RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVES.

`(a) Establishment-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- There is established in the Department of Agriculture an office to be known as the `Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) UNDER SECRETARY- The head of the Office shall be the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives, who shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) report directly to the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Responsibilities-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- The Under Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) as of the date of enactment of this section, administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) the rural broadband access loan and loan guarantee program established under section 603; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) the Community Connect Grant Program described in subpart A of part 1739 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) REQUIREMENTS- The Under Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) conduct extensive, nationwide outreach to rural areas;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) foster the development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) plan coordination of Federal resources for State, regional, and local governments to assist citizens living and working in rural areas;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) assess all relevant technologies (including WiFi, WIMAX, DSL, cable, satellite, fiber, optical fiber, and broadband) over power lines, as the technologies are able to support in whole or in part rural broadband needs and requirements;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) serve as a single information source for all rural broadband programs and services administered by Federal agencies; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) provide technical assistance to State, regional, and local governments to develop broadband deployment strategies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Comprehensive Rural Broadband Strategy-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after the appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary shall submit to the President and Congress a report describing comprehensive rural broadband strategy that includes--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) recommendations--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) to promote interagency coordination of Federal agencies in regards to policies, procedures, and targeted resources, and to improve and streamline the polices, programs, and services;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) to coordinate among Federal agencies regarding existing rural broadband or rural initiatives that could be of value to rural broadband development;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) to address both short- and long-term solutions and needs assessments for a rapid build-out of rural broadband solutions and applications for Federal, State, regional, and local government policy makers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) to identify how specific Federal agency programs and resources can best respond to rural broadband requirements and overcome obstacles that currently impede rural broadband deployment; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(v) to promote successful model deployments and appropriate technologies being used in rural areas so that State, regional, and local governments can benefit from the cataloging and successes of other State, regional, and local governments; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) a description of goals and timeframes to achieve the strategic plans and visions identified in the report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) UPDATES- The Under Secretary shall update and evaluate the report described in paragraph (1) on an annual basis.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) National Rural Broadband Innovation Fund-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established in the Treasury of the United States a revolving fund, to be known as the `National Rural Broadband Innovation Fund' (referred to in this subsection as the `Fund'), consisting of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under paragraph (5); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under paragraph (4).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) USE OF FUND-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- The Under Secretary shall use the amounts in the Fund to fund experimental and pilot rural broadband projects and applications, including WiFi, WIMAX, DSL, cable, satellite, fiber, optical fiber, and broadband delivery over power lines.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) REPORT- Not later than 90 days after the date of appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) proposed rules for the administration of the Fund; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) proposed qualification guidelines for projects to receive funding under this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B), on request by the Under Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Under Secretary such amounts as the Under Secretary determines are necessary to fund projects under paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES- An amount not exceeding 10 percent of the amounts in the Fund shall be available for each fiscal year to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current withdrawals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) INTEREST-BEARING OBLIGATIONS- Investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) ACQUISITION OF OBLIGATIONS- For the purpose of investments under subparagraph (A), obligations may be acquired--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) on original issue at the issue price; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the market price.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) SALE OF OBLIGATIONS- Any obligation acquired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the market price.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) CREDITS TO FUND- The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to, and form a part of, the Fund.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Rural Broadband Advisory Panel-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 60 days after the date of appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan to establish a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel (referred to in this subsection as the `Panel').CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) CHAIRPERSON- The Panel shall be chaired by the Under Secretary or a designee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) MEMBERSHIP- The Panel shall be composed of representatives of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) State government;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) local government;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) communications equipment vendors (including broadband data service providers);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) public utility services;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) local exchange carriers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) wireless carriers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) satellite communications services; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(H) other appropriate public or private sector entities, as determined by the Under Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) MEETINGS- The Panel shall meet not less than 4 times each year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) DUTIES- The Advisory Panel shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) assist the Under Secretary in updating the annual report described in subsection (c)(2);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) evaluate the effectiveness of all Federal broadband assistance programs and policies aimed at fostering broadband access in rural and underserved areas;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) evaluate best practices employed at the State and local government level to foster broadband access in rural and underserved areas; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) cooperate with the Under Secretary in addressing and evaluating issues determined by the Under Secretary to be critical to fostering broadband access and connectivity in rural and underserved areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Web-Based Clearinghouse- The Under Secretary shall establish a comprehensive and interactive rural broadband Web-based clearinghouse that describes options, opportunities, resources, successful public-private partnerships, comprehensive funding sources, and technology tutorials for rural broadband, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) case studies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) descriptions of best practices;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) assessments of various technology solutions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) feasibility studies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) applications, including telework, telemedicine, distance learning, training, homeland security, senior citizen connectivity and program development, and business and economic development;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) rural broadband options and policies analysis; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) support for networks among rural communities and economic development agencies.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments- Section 603 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (d)(2), by striking `Administrator' and inserting `Under Secretary'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (i)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking `Administrator' each place it appears and inserting `Under Secretary';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting appropriately;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking `Not later than' and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) RULES REVISION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 60 days after the date of appointment of the first Under Secretary, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a revision of the rules and qualification criteria for the loan and loan guarantee program under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) REQUIREMENTS- In preparing the revision, the Under Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) emphasize streamlining the application process and processing time;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) ensure that the financial requirements for applicants do not unduly disqualify applicants that have demonstrated a viable business plan; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) not diminish the mission of the program to deliver broadband service to underserved rural areas.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. SUFFICIENCY OF RESOURCES.

(a) In General- Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report describing the resources and staff necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Preparation of Report- The Secretary shall provide the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives the resources and staff necessary to carry out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Comptroller General Review-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Comptroller General of the United States shall review the report submitted under subsection (a) for validity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REPORT- Not later than 30 days after the date on which the report is submitted under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing the findings of the review under paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink