,i #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #caeb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bb1 #bjae ,mr4 ,nolan introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,rural ,electrification ,act of #aicf to establish an ,office of ,rural ,broadband ,initiatives in the ,department of ,agriculture1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural ,broadband ,initiative ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,rural ,electrification ,act of #aicf helped bring electricity and telephone service to rural ,america1 thus removing major barriers to the development of our rural economies4 7#b7 ,a lack of affordable broadband presents a similar barrier to the development of our rural economy4 7#c7 ,according to the ,federal ,communications ,commission1 #ec percent of rural ,americans lack access to service delivering broadband speeds of #be ,mbps for downloads and #c ,mbps for uploads4 7#d7 ,high-speed broadband access helps rural communities compete and grow in our digital economy4 #c4 ,sense of the ,congress ,it is the sense of the ,congress that necessary funds should be made available to provide universal and affordable broadband access to the ,united ,states of ,america with a focus on underserved rural communities4 #d4 ,office of ,rural ,broadband ,initiatives 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,vi of the ,rural ,electrification ,act of #aicf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #iej;bb et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating sections #fja through #fjc as sections #fjc through #fje1 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting before section #fjc 7as so redesignated7 the following new sections3 #fja4 ,definitions ,in this title3 7#a7 ,office ,the term ,office means the ,office of ,rural ,broadband ,initiatives established by section #fjb7;a77#a74 7#b7 ,under ,secretary ,the term ,under ,secretary means the ,under ,secretary for ,rural ,broadband ,initiatives appointed under section #fjb7;a77#b74 #fjb4 ,office of ,rural ,broadband ,initiatives 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,department of ,agriculture an office to be known as the ,office of ,rural ,broadband ,initiatives4 7#b7 ,under ,secretary ,the head of the ,office shall be the ,under ,secretary for ,rural ,broadband ,initiatives1 who shall-- 7,a7 be appointed by the ,president1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 report directly to the ,secretary4 7b7 ,responsibilities 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,under ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 as of the date of enactment of this section1 administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the ,administrator of the ,rural ,utilities ,service1 including-- 7i7 the rural broadband access loan and loan guarantee program established under section #fjc2 7ii7 the ,community ,connect ,grant ,program described in subpart ,a of part #agci of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations72 and 7iii7 the ,telecommunications ,infrastructure ,loan program established under this ,act4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the ,under ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 conduct extensive1 nationwide outreach to rural areas2 7,b7 foster the development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision2 7,c7 plan coordination of ,federal resources for ,state1 regional1 and local governments to assist citizens living and working in rural areas2 7,d7 assess all relevant technologies 7including ,wi,fi1 ,,wimax1 ,,dsl1 cable1 satellite1 fiber1 and broadband over power lines71 as the technologies are able to support in whole or in part rural broadband needs and requirements2 7,e7 serve as a single information source for all rural broadband programs and services administered by ,federal agencies1 and coordinate the activities undertaken under ,federal rural broadband programs2 and 7,f7 provide technical assistance to ,state1 regional1 and local governments to develop broadband deployment strategies4 7c7 ,comprehensive rural broadband strategy 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the appointment of the first ,under ,secretary1 the ,under ,secretary shall submit to the ,president and ,congress a report describing comprehensive rural broadband strategy that includes-- 7,a7 recommendations-- 7i7 to promote interagency coordination of ,federal agencies in regards to policies1 procedures1 and targeted resources1 and to improve and streamline the policies1 programs1 and services2 7ii7 to coordinate among ,federal agencies regarding existing rural broadband or rural initiatives that could be of value to rural broadband development2 7iii7 to address both short- and long-term solutions and needs assessments for a rapid build-out of rural broadband solutions and applications for ,federal1 ,state1 regional1 and local government policy makers2 7iv7 to identify how specific ,federal agency programs and resources can best respond to rural broadband requirements and overcome obstacles that currently impede rural broadband deployment2 and 7v7 to promote successful model deployments and appropriate technologies being used in rural areas so that ,state1 regional1 and local governments can benefit from the cataloging of successes of other ,state1 regional1 and local governments2 and 7,b7 a description of goals and timeframes to achieve the strategic plans and visions identified in the report4 7#b7 ,updates ,the ,under ,secretary shall update and evaluate the report described in paragraph 7#a7 on an annual basis4 7d7 ,rural ,broadband ,advisory ,panel 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of appointment of the first ,under ,secretary1 the ,under ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a plan to establish a ,rural ,broadband ,advisory ,panel 7referred to in this subsection as the ,panel74 7#b7 ,chairperson ,the ,panel shall be chaired by the ,under ,secretary or a designee4 7#c7 ,membership ,the ,panel shall be composed of representatives of-- 7,a7 ,state government2 7,b7 local government2 7,c7 communications equipment vendors 7including broadband data service providers72 7,d7 public utility services2 7,e7 local exchange carriers2 7,f7 wireless carriers2 7,g7 satellite communications services2 and 7,h7 other appropriate public or private sector entities1 as determined by the ,under ,secretary4 7#d7 ,meetings ,the ,panel shall meet not less than #d times each year4 7#e7 ,duties ,the ,advisory ,panel shall-- 7,a7 assist the ,under ,secretary in updating the annual report described in subsection 7c77#b72 7,b7 evaluate the effectiveness of all ,federal broadband assistance programs and policies aimed at fostering broadband access in rural and underserved areas2 7,c7 evaluate best practices employed at the ,state and local government level to foster broadband access in rural and underserved areas2 and 7,d7 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 areas4 7e7 ,web-,based ,clearinghouse ,the ,under ,secretary shall establish a comprehensive and interactive rural broadband ,web-based clearinghouse that describes options1 opportunities1 resources1 successful public-private partnerships1 comprehensive funding sources1 and technology tutorials for rural broadband1 including-- 7#a7 case studies2 7#b7 descriptions of best practices2 7#c7 assessments of various technology solutions2 7#d7 feasibility studies2 7#e7 applications1 including telework1 telemedicine1 distance learning1 training1 homeland security1 senior citizen connectivity and program development1 and business and economic development2 7#f7 rural broadband options and policies analysis2 and 7#g7 support for networks among rural communities and economic development agencies4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,section #fjc of the ,rural ,electrification ,act of #aicf 7as so redesignated by subsection 7a77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d77#a77;,b71 by striking subsection 7k7 and inserting subsection 7l72 7#b7 in subsection 7j71 by striking ,administrator and inserting ,under ,secretary2 7#c7 by redesignating subsections 7k7 and 7l7 as subsections 7l7 and 7m71 respectively2 and 7#d7 by inserting after subsection 7j7 the following3 7k7 ,rules revision 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of appointment of the first ,under ,secretary1 the ,under ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a revision of the rules and qualification criteria for the loan and loan guarantee programs under this section4 7#b7 ,requirements ,in preparing the revision1 the ,under ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 emphasize streamlining the application process and processing time2 7,b7 ensure that the financial requirements for applicants do not unduly disqualify applicants that have demonstrated a viable business plan2 and 7,c7 not diminish the mission of the program to deliver broadband service to underserved rural areas4 4 #e4 ,sufficiency of resources 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 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 ,act4 7b7 ,preparation of report ,the ,secretary shall provide the ,office of ,rural ,broadband ,initiatives the resources and staff necessary to carry out this section4 7c7 ,comptroller ,general review 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall review the report submitted under subsection 7a7 for validity4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #cj days after the date on which the report is submitted under subsection 7a71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report containing the findings of the review under paragraph 7#a74