Broadband Census of America Act of 2007

To provide for a comprehensive nationwide inventory of existing broadband service, and for other purposes.

11/13/2007--Passed House amended. Broadband Census of America Act of 2007 -
(Sec. 2) Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct an annual assessment and report to the public on the nature and deployment of, and subscription to, broadband service capability throughout the states, including information comparing the extent of broadband service capability in other countries. Provides for enforcement as if the provisions of this paragraph were a part of the Communications Act of 1934. Considers a violation of the provisions of this paragraph to be a violation of that Act or a regulation promulgated under that Act. Makes the provisions of this paragraph ineffective six years after enactment of this Act.
(Sec. 3) Directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce to develop and maintain a broadband inventory map of the United States that identifies and depicts the geographic extent to which broadband service capability is deployed and available from commercial or public providers throughout each state. Requires the NTIA to seek to overlay demographic data obtained from other sources in the Department of Commerce and elsewhere for use with the map and to make the map accessible by the public on an interactive and searchable NTIA website. Requires that the NTIA request and obtain information as necessary from entities that are eligible for map grants under this Act, the FCC and commercial and public broadband service providers. Makes the provisions of this paragraph ineffective seven years after enactment of this Act.
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the NTIA, subject to fund availability, to make grants to states or nonprofit organizations to assist in providing the NTIA with information to facilitate the development of that map.
(Sec. 5) Requires the NTIA to make grants to local technology planning entities, including to assess the current use of broadband service capability, set goals for improving or maximizing such use, identify local broadband demand and aggregate such demand, and establish programs to improve computer ownership and Internet access for unserved and underserved populations. Prohibits using grant funds to provide broadband service or acquire equipment or facilities for such capability.
(Sec. 6) Requires the FCC to conduct and make public periodic consumer surveys regarding the types of technology used, the amounts consumers pay, the actual data transmission speeds, the types of applications and services consumers most frequently use in conjunction with such capability, the reasons given by consumers who decline to subscribe to broadband service, and other sources of broadband service consumers regularly use or on which they rely. Makes the provisions of this paragraph ineffective six years after enactment of this Act.
(Sec. 8) Prohibits construing this Act to expand or limit the authority of states, Indian tribes, or units of local government to compel the collection of information.
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions of this Act relating to the broadband inventory map, grants for that map, and grants to technology planning entities.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Edward Markey [D, MA-7]
• and 15 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Thomas Allen [D, ME-1]
  • Rep. Joe Barton [R, TX-6]
  • Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
  • Rep. John Dingell [D, MI-15]
  • Rep. Michael Doyle [D, PA-14]
  • Rep. Anna Eshoo [D, CA-14]
  • Rep. Charles Gonzalez [D, TX-20]
  • Rep. Barton Gordon [D, TN-6]
  • Rep. Raymond Green [D, TX-29]
  • Rep. Baron Hill [D, IN-9]
  • Rep. Hilda Solis [D, CA-32]
  • Rep. Zackary Space [D, OH-18]
  • Rep. Bart Stupak [D, MI-1]
  • Rep. Frederick Upton [R, MI-6]
  • Rep. Heather Wilson [R, NM-1]
  close

Committees

• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• 2 more
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • House Energy and Commerce
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Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.3919

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
October 22, 2007		November 13, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• Nov 14, 2007: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• Passed by voice vote in the House on Nov 13, 2007. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• Nov 13, 2007: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3919.
• Nov 13, 2007: Considered under suspension of the rules.
• Nov 13, 2007: Mr. Markey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• Added to calendar on Nov 13, 2007: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 274..
• Nov 13, 2007: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 110-443.
• Added to calendar on Oct 30, 2007: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote..
• Oct 30, 2007: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Oct 23, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
• Oct 22, 2007: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• Oct 22, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2196-2197)
• Introduced on Oct 22, 2007.

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Related Issue Areas:

• Telecommunication rates
• Technology
• Surveys
• Sunset legislation
• 13 more
• Subscription television
• Maps
• Internet
• Grants-in-aid
• Government publicity
• Government paperwork
• Government information
• Electronic government information
• Congress
• Computers
• Budgets
• Broadband
• Telecommunication

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

November 16, 2007 Broadband Bills Forging Path through Congress

More formally known as HR 3919, the Broadband Census of America Act mainly seeks to perform a thorough survey of America’s existing broadband services. ...

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Source: DailyTech, IL

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November 15, 2007 House Adopts Broadband Census Bill, Measure Moves Nation Closer to ...

The Communications Workers of America commended the House of Representatives on passage of the Broadband Census of America Act of 2007, HR 3919, ...

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Source: Union Network International, Switzerland

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November 14, 2007 House Passes Broadband Mapping Bill

The legislation (HR 3919) would discontinue the fcc's current zip code method that counts a single broadband subscriber in a five-digit zip code as ...

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Source: eWeek,  NY

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Blog Coverage

July 17, 2008 Better Broadband Coverage Coming Soon?

1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act and HR 3919, the Broadband Census of America Act of 2007) would improve information-gathering about current broadband deployment and assist in targeting resources to areas in need of such ...

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Source: Gordon's Information and Communications...

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July 15, 2008 Connected Nation Joins with National Leaders to Encourage Federal ...

... commit to broadband legislation that will support broadband build out and meaningful programs to increase adoption The bills supported by the group include S 1492 the Broadband Data Improvement Act and HR 3919 the Broadband Census ...

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Source: Government PRNN

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July 15, 2008 EDUCAUSE Signs Letter Urging Congress to Support Pro-Broadband ...

In a letter that was delivered yesterday, EDUCAUSE and several other groups have asked that Congress pass S. 1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act, and HR 3919, the Broadband Census of America Act, before the 110th Congress ends. ...

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Source: EDUCAUSE | All Content

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