H.R. 4832 — Introduced in House

I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4832 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 18, 2018Mr. Cramer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify that an eligible telecommunications carrier may use high cost universal service support to aid in the restoration of telecommunications capabilities in an area in which the President has declared a major disaster or emergency and may elect to receive an advance payment of such support. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Restoring Economic Strength and Telecommunications Operations by Releasing Expected Dollars Act of 2018 or the RESTORED Act of 2018. 2. Use of high cost universal service support following presidentially declared major disasters or emergencies Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following: (m) Use of high cost universal service support following presidentially declared major disasters or emergencies (1) Use of support A covered telecommunications carrier may use high cost support received with respect to a covered area to aid in the restoration of telecommunications capabilities in such area if such carrier— (A) repairs its network as rapidly and widely as possible to restore service; and (B) uses such support for such restoration only in a covered area that is substantially unserved by facilities-based providers of residential fixed voice and broadband service that do not receive high cost support. (2) Advance payments (A) In general If a covered telecommunications carrier makes an election described in subparagraph (B) with respect to a covered area, the Commission shall provide to such carrier in the form of a single advance payment the high cost support that, in the absence of such election, such carrier would have received with respect to such area over the number of months specified in such election. (B) Election The election described in this subparagraph is an election— (i) by a covered telecommunications carrier to receive high cost support with respect to a covered area for a number of months specified in the election (not to exceed 7 months) in the form of a single advance payment; and (ii) that is made not later than 30 days after the President has declared a major disaster or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) with respect to such area. (3) Definitions (A) Covered area The term covered area means an area with respect to which the President has declared a major disaster or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). (B) Covered telecommunications carrier The term covered telecommunications carrier means an eligible telecommunications carrier designated under section 214(e) that receives high cost support with respect to a covered area. (C) High cost support The term high cost support means universal service support for high cost areas under subpart D of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations. .