Rural America Communication Expansion for the Future Act of 2008

To improve access to broadband service in rural and underserved areas of the United States, and for other purposes.

4/2/2008--Introduced.
Rural America Communication Expansion for the Future Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers in rural or underserved areas to elect to expense broadband expenditures, including installation and connection costs. Permits mutual or cooperative telephone companies to reduce their unrelated business taxable income in any year by the amount of their broadband expenditures. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to designate census tracts identifying rural and underserved areas. Prohibits federal or state agencies from adopting regulations and ratemaking procedures that would eliminate or reduce the broadband expense deduction provided by this Act. Allows a business-related tax credit for providing broadband services to rural or underserved subscribers through the radio transmission of energy. Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to establish a grant to a local government with at least one rural or underserved area to establish publicly available broadband networks. Extends funding for:
(1) public safety communications interoperability;
(2) 911 access; and
(3) telehealth programs. Revises provisions relating to rural area loans and loan guarantees regarding access to broadband telecommunications services, including revising the definition of "eligible rural community." Requires designation of a National Center for Rural Telecommunications Assessment. Establishes the Community Connect Grant Program to provide broadband service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and public safety services. Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize grants to noncommercial education television broadcast stations that serve rural areas to enhance digital services. Extends the termination date of the authority to guarantee bonds or notes for electrification or telephone purposes.


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Sponsor

• Thomas Allen

Committees

• House Agriculture
• 3 more
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • House Ways and Means
  • House Energy and Commerce
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Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.5682

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
April 02, 2008

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All Bill Actions

• Introduced on Apr 02, 2008.
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, 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 concerned.
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to House Ways and Means
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to House Agriculture

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Related Issue Areas:

• Telecommunication
• Bonds
• Broadband
• Budgets
• 36 more
• Business
• Congress
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Cooperative societies
• Distance education
• Economic policy
• Education
• Educational television
• Elementary and secondary education
• Emergency communication systems
• Emergency management
• Federally-guaranteed loans
• Finance
• Government lending
• Grants-in-aid
• Health policy
• Higher education
• Income tax
• Information networks
• Medical care
• Medicine
• Policy sciences
• Politics and government
• Rural affairs
• Rural economic development
• Rural health
• Tax credits
• Tax deductions
• Taxation
• Technology
• Telecommunication industry
• Telemedicine
• Telephone
• Television broadcasting
• Television stations
• Unrelated business income tax

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

December 30, 2008 World Prout Assembly: Obama's 2005 and 2006 voting record

11/16/06: Obama voted for nuclear proliferation in voting to pass HR 5682, a bill to exempt the United States-India Nuclear Proliferation Act from requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Roll Call 270 [W] ...

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Source: World Prout Assembly

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December 04, 2008 What Happens When You Lose Your Lobbyist - New York Politics ...

HR 5682: India Peaceful Atomic Energy * HR 5948: Belarus Democracy Act * H Res 1100: Rates of Duty/ Trade Preference * HR 6375: Funds Authorized or Made Available to the Department of Defense * HR 6111: Tax Relief and Health Care Act ...

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Source: Capitol confidential

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November 06, 2008 I want to cry

“11/16/06: Obama voted for nuclear proliferation in voting to pass HR 5682, a bill to exempt the United States-India Nuclear Proliferation Act from requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Roll Call 270 .” ...

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Source: Ravelry Discussions - Knitters for Barack Obama

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