HR 4619 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to create a pilot program to bridge the digital divide by providing vouchers for broadband service to eligible students, to increase access to advanced telecommunications and information services for community colleges and head start programs, to establish a pilot program for discounted electronic books, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 9, 2010CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. MARKEY of Massachusetts (for himself, Mrs. CAPPS, and Ms. MATSUI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to create a pilot program to bridge the digital divide by providing vouchers for broadband service to eligible students, to increase access to advanced telecommunications and information services for community colleges and head start programs, to establish a pilot program for discounted electronic books, 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 ‘E-Rate 2.0 Act of 2010’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. E-RATE 2.0 PROGRAM FOR INCREASED ADOPTION.

Section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (10); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) DIGITAL DIVIDE MITIGATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall implement a pilot program to extend broadband service to students who--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) qualify for funding under the federally subsidized school lunch program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) attend secondary schools that receive support under this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) who possess a computer for use at home.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) USE OF FUNDS- The pilot program shall distribute funding to such secondary schools to dispense vouchers to eligible students to be used for monthly service fees for residential broadband service for such students.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) RULES- The Commission shall promulgate rules to implement the pilot program, including rules to prevent vouchers from being sold or transferred to non-qualifying individuals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) LIMITATIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) DURATION- The pilot program shall be in effect for a period of 5 years after the effective date of the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) MAXIMUM AMOUNT- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission to implement the pilot program not more than $500,000,000 per year for the period described in clause (i).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR DISCOUNTED RATES FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND HEAD START PROGRAMS.

(a) In General- Section 254(h) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 254(h)) is further amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘classrooms,’ and inserting ‘classrooms, community colleges, head start programs’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (10) (as redesignated under section 2(1))--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘school,’ and inserting ‘school, a community college, a head start program’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





‘(J) COMMUNITY COLLEGE- The term ‘community college’ has the meaning given the term ‘junior or community college’ in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(K) HEAD START PROGRAM- The term ‘head start program’ means any local public or private nonprofit agency that is designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as a Head Start agency under section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Pilot Project- Section 254(h) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 254(h)) is further amended by inserting after paragraph (7), as added by section 2, the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND HEAD START PROGRAMS PILOT PROJECT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall implement a pilot project, not to exceed $150,000,000 in any one year, to extend funding for broadband equipment and services under this section to those community college or head start program applicants who best demonstrate need, maximization potential of broadband use consistent with their educational mission, and innovation with respect to use of broadband, web-based information and applications.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) RULEMAKING REQUIRED- The Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this paragraph.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) SPECIFICATION- For the first 5 years after the date of enactment of the E-Rate 2.0 Act of 2010, community colleges and head start programs shall receive funding for broadband equipment and services from the Federal government exclusively through this pilot project.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. ELECTRONIC BOOKS PILOT PROJECT.

Section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)) is further amended by inserting after paragraph (8), as added by section 3, the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9) E-BOOKS FOR E-RATE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall implement a pilot project, not to exceed $50,000,000 in any one year, to extend to those secondary school applicants for funding under this section that are eligible for the highest percentage discounted rates under the Commission’s regulations implementing this section an opportunity to apply for meaningfully discounted services and technologies for the use of electronic books.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) RULEMAKING REQUIRED- The Commission shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement this paragraph, including rules assuring that such technologies and services are incorporated into the course curricula of the applying secondary school and that implementation is on a technology-neutral basis.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) DURATION; REPORT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) IN GENERAL- The pilot project shall last 4 years in duration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) REPORT- At the end of the third year of the operation of the pilot project, the Commission shall prepare and submit to Congress a report assessing the project. The report shall include metrics to gauge the impact on digital literacy and overall learning associated with the student use of the electronic books project.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) RULEMAKING REQUIRED- The Commission shall commence and complete a rulemaking in the final year of the pilot project and determine whether the program should be extended or terminated, and if extended, what additional entities should be eligible for funding, what level of funding is reasonable and affordable for such program, and what other modifications to the program are warranted consistent with the public interest.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. IMPROVED ADMINISTRATION OF E-RATE APPLICATION PROCESS.

(a) In General- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall develop and implement policies and procedures to streamline and simplify the application process under section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (commonly known as the ‘E-Rate program’) for the purpose of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) improving administration of the program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) increasing access to the benefits of the program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) minimizing the burden on applicants; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) maintaining measures to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Specific Modifications- In carrying out subsection (a), the Federal Communications Commission shall consider whether the mission and goals of the E-Rate program would be better served by the following modifications to the administration of the program:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The establishment of a multi-year application for Priority One services such that applicants would be required to submit funding requests only once every 3 years for recurring services (such as telephone and Internet access services).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The use of an interactive Web site for communicating with applicants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The deployment of interactive technology tools, such as online application forms, as part of the application process to reduce the use of paper-based means of communication and to improve the ability of applicants to receive clear and current information regarding their applications and the E-Rate program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. E-RATE FUND CAP MODIFICATION.

(a) In General- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall complete a proceeding to revise the amount of the cap provided for in section 54.507(a) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, to account for inflation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report to Congress- Not later than 30 days after completing the proceeding required by subsection (a), the Federal Communications Commission shall submit a report to Congress explaining what methodology the Commission will use to determine the appropriate adjustment under such subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink