,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bbje ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #g1 #bjag ,mr4 ,heinrich 7for himself and ,mr4 ,heller7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to improve access by ,indian tribes to support from the ,schools and ,libraries ,universal ,service ,support program 7,e-rate7 of the ,federal ,communications ,commission1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,tribal ,connect ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,eligibility of tribal libraries and qualifying anchor institutions for ,e-rate support ,section #bed of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bed7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7h77#d71 by inserting 1 except as provided in subsection 7m71 before is a library or library consortium2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7m7 ,eligibility of tribal libraries and qualifying anchor institutions for ,e-,rate support 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection-- 7,a7 the term broadband ,internet access service has the meaning given the term in section #h4b of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation2 7,b7 the term ,e-rate program means the universal service program for schools and libraries authorized under subsection 7h77#a77;,b71 the rules of which are set forth under subpart ,f of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation71 as authorized under subsection 7h77#b77;,a72 7,c7 the term ,e-rate support means universal service discounts on eligible services in accordance with subpart ,f of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation71 as authorized under subsection 7h77#b77;,a72 7,d7 the term ,indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section #bj4a of title #be1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation2 and 7,e7 the term qualifying anchor institution means a facility owned by an ,indian tribe1 including a tribal government building1 chapter house1 longhouse1 community center1 senior center1 or other similar public building4 7#b7 ,eligibility of tribal libraries for ,e-rate support 7,a7 ,designation of tribal libraries as libraries eligible for ,e-rate support 7i7 ,in general ,an ,indian tribe that is eligible for support under section #bfa of the ,library ,services and ,technology ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iafa7 may designate a tribal library or tribal library consortium as a library or consortium that is eligible for ,e-rate support1 without regard to whether the library or library consortium is eligible for assistance from a ,state ,library ,administrative ,agency under the ,library ,services and ,technology ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iaba et seq471 if the library or library consortium is eligible for support from an ,indian tribe under such section #bfa4 7ii7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in clause 7i7 shall be construed to exempt a tribal library from any requirement under the ,e-rate program not described in that clause1 including the other requirements relating to eligible recipients under section #ed4eja of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation74 7,b7 ,tribal ,anchor ,institution ,demonstration ,program 7i7 ,in general ,the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services and any other agency with relevant responsibilities1 shall establish a pilot program to be known as the ,tribal ,anchor ,institution ,program1 under which the ,commission shall provide ,e-rate support to ,indian tribes for qualifying anchor institutions designated by the ,indian tribes4 7ii7 ,eligibility 7,i7 ,in general ,to be eligible to obtain ,e-rate support under this subparagraph1 a tribal government shall not have an existing tribal library eligible for the ,schools and ,libraries ,universal ,service ,support program within the tribal community4 7,,ii7 ,requirements ,e-rate support obtained under this subparagraph shall only be available for an ,indian tribe if-- 7aa7 the proposed qualifying anchor institution is exclusively owned by the ,indian tribe2 and 7bb7 the proposed qualifying anchor institution intends to deliver publicly available ,internet access to students1 teachers1 librarians1 and members of the community for educational purposes4 7,,iii7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this clause shall be construed to provide the ,commission with the authority to modify the eligibility requirements described in this clause4 7iii7 ,use of contributions ,of the amount collected for the ,universal ,service ,fund under subsection 7d71 #bj1jjj1jjj shall be made available for each of the first #e fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of the ,tribal ,connect ,act of #bjag to the ,commission to carry out this paragraph4 7#c7 ,training and technical assistance for tribal schools and libraries 7,a7 ,annual reports ,the ,commission shall direct the ,administrator of the ,schools and ,libraries ,universal ,service ,support program to submit an annual report to the ,commission regarding the actions of the ,schools and ,libraries ,universal ,service ,support program to ensure that tribal schools and libraries can participate fully and effectively in the ,e-rate program1 including-- 7i7 outreach efforts targeted to tribal schools and libraries to promote awareness of the ,e-rate program2 7ii7 specific ,e-rate training programs for tribal schools and libraries2 and 7iii7 other technical assistance initiatives regarding the program's application process that are available to tribal schools and libraries4 7,b7 ,review of annual reports ,the ,commission shall review each annual report required under subparagraph 7,a7 to determine whether additional steps are necessary to ensure that tribal schools and libraries can participate fully and effectively in the ,e-rate program4 7#d7 ,coordination and performance measurement ,the ,commission shall-- 7,a7 improve the reliability of the data of the ,commission relating to institutions that receive ,e-rate support by defining the term tribal on the application for ,e-rate support2 and 7,b7 7i7 develop performance goals and measures to track progress on achieving the strategic objective of the ,commission of ensuring that all tribal libraries have affordable access to broadband ,internet access service technologies for educational purposes for students1 teachers1 librarians1 and members of the community2 and 7ii7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 submit to ,congress and make public a report on the goals and measures developed under clause 7i74 4