,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #adgb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #a1 #bjae,mr4 ,murphy 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,ms4 ,warren1 and ,mr4 ,blumenthal7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,communications ,act of #aicd to reform and modernize the ,universal ,service ,fund ,lifeline ,assistance ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,broadband ,adoption ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,broadband ,lifeline ,assistance ,program ,section #bed7;j7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bed7;j77 is amended to read as follows3 7j7 ,lifeline ,assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,nothing in this section1 other than paragraph 7#b7 of this subsection1 shall affect the collection1 distribution1 or administration of the ,lifeline program of the ,commission set forth under sections #ed4djj through #ed4dag of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor thereto4 7#b7 ,broadband ,lifeline ,assistance ,program 7,a7 ,definitions ,in this paragraph-- 7i7 the term broadband ,internet access service has the meaning given that term under section #h4aa7;a7 of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor thereto2 7ii7 the terms duplicative support and qualifying low-income consumer have the meanings given those terms in section #ed4djj of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor thereto2 7iii7 the term ,lifeline program means the ,lifeline program of the ,commission set forth under sections #ed4djj through #ed4dag of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor thereto2 and 7iv7 the term participating broadband ,internet service provider means a provider of broadband ,internet access service that elects to participate in the ,lifeline program to provide broadband ,internet access service to qualifying low-income consumers under the final rule adopted under subparagraph 7,c77i74 7,b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this paragraph is to promote the adoption of broadband ,internet access service by all people of the ,united ,states while recognizing that the price of broadband ,internet access service is one of the barriers to adoption for low-income households4 7,c7 ,establishment 7i7 ,in general ,not later than #bgj days after the date of enactment of the ,broadband ,adoption ,act of #bjae1 the ,commission shall adopt a final rule establishing ,lifeline support under the ,lifeline program for broadband ,internet access service to enable qualifying low-income consumers in urban and rural areas to purchase broadband ,internet access service at reduced charges by reimbursing participating broadband ,internet access service providers for each such consumer served4 7ii7 ,model ,the final rule adopted under clause 7i7 shall provide that a qualifying low-income consumer may elect to apply ,lifeline support under the ,lifeline program to basic telephone service1 voice telephony service1 or broadband ,internet access service1 regardless of whether the service is purchased as a stand-alone service or as part of a bundle of services4 7iii7 ,digital literacy program ,the ,commission shall consider providing a preference to a participating broadband ,internet access service provider that includes components involving digital literacy programs as part of the offerings of the participating broadband ,internet access service provider4 7,d7 ,state funds ,the ,commission shall consult with the ,federal-,state ,joint ,board instituted under subsection 7a77#a7 regarding ways to encourage ,states to develop programs that would work in conjunction with the ,lifeline program4 7,e7 ,amount of support 7i7 ,in general ,in calculating the amount of ,lifeline support to be provided to each qualifying low-income consumer under the final rule adopted under subparagraph 7,c77i71 the ,commission shall routinely study-- 7,i7 the prevailing market price for broadband ,internet access service2 7,,ii7 the prevailing speed of broadband ,internet access service adopted by households2 and 7,,iii7 the prevailing broadband usage patterns of non-,lifeline eligible residential consumers4 7ii7 ,information ,in carrying out clause 7i71 the ,commission shall rely on information that-- 7,i7 the ,commission routinely collects2 or 7,,ii7 is publicly available4 7,f7 ,technology neutral 7i7 ,in general ,to promote competition from service providers to qualify under the ,lifeline program1 the ,commission shall ensure that the final rule adopted under subparagraph 7,c77i7 is neutral as to the types of technology used to provide voice telephony or broadband ,internet access service under the ,lifeline program4 7ii7 ,authorization ,a participating broadband ,internet access service provider-- 7,i7 shall not be required to be an eligible telecommunications carrier 7as designated under section #bad7;e77 to receive support under the ,lifeline program2 and 7,,ii7 shall obtain authorization from the ,commission in order to participate in the ,lifeline program4 7,g7 ,accountability 7i7 ,nonduplication ,the final rule adopted under subparagraph 7,c77i7 shall incorporate regulations of the ,commission in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act that prevent the receipt of duplicative support under the ,lifeline program4 7ii7 ,preventing waste1 fraud1 or abuse ,in promulgating regulations to carry out this paragraph1 the ,commission shall consider any appropriate measures to prevent any waste1 fraud1 or abuse in the administration of the ,lifeline program4 7iii7 ,eligibility ,the ,commission1 in consultation with other relevant ,federal agencies1 shall establish a national database to determine qualifying low-income consumer eligibility for ,lifeline program subsidies4 7,h7 ,evaluation reports ,not later than #a year after the ,commission adopts the final rule under subparagraph 7,c77i71 and every year thereafter1 the ,commission shall conduct an evaluation and issue a report on the performance of the ,lifeline program during the #ab-month period preceding the date on which each report is issued4 7,i7 ,,gao study ,not later than #a year after the ,commission adopts the final rule under subparagraph 7,c77i71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study and issue a report on the performance of the ,lifeline support provided under the ,lifeline program for broadband ,internet access service4 7#c7 ,clarification of authority ,nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the ,commission under any other provision of law1 including the authority to promulgate regulations to promote the adoption of broadband service by low-income households in the ,united ,states4 4