,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bgg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #b1 #bjag ,mr4 ,manchin introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,rural ,telecommunications and ,broadband ,advisory ,committee within the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural ,telecommunications and ,broadband ,service ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,rural ,telecommunications and ,broadband ,advisory ,committee ,title ,i of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ac4 ,rural ,telecommunications and ,broadband ,advisory ,committee 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established within the ,commission the ,rural ,telecommunications and ,broadband ,advisory ,committee 7in this section referred to as the ,committee74 7b7 ,purpose ,the ,committee shall-- 7#a7 provide advice to the ,commission and reports to ,congress with respect to policy issues relating to telecommunications services in rural areas1 including advice and recommendations that would-- 7,a7 promote the deployment of advanced and next-generation telecommunications services in rural areas2 and 7,b7 advance the principles described in section #bed7;b72 and 7#b7 advise the ,commission with respect to the impact that agenda items of the ,commission could have on the provision of telecommunications services in rural areas4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,number of members ,the ,committee shall be composed of not fewer than #e and not more than #cj members4 7#b7 ,appointment ,the members of the ,committee1 other than the co-,chairs described in paragraph 7#f71 shall be appointed by the chairman of the ,commission with the concurrence of the senior commissioner of the ,commission from the party of which the chairman is not a member4 7#c7 ,removal ,a member of the ,committee may be removed only upon the concurrence of both the chairman of the ,commission and the senior commissioner of the ,commission from the party of which the chairman is not a member4 7#d7 ,terms ,each member of the ,committee appointed under paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 shall serve for a term of #b years2 and 7,b7 may be reappointed for additional terms4 7#e7 ,representation of membership ,the membership of the ,committee shall-- 7,a7 be balanced with respect to the functions that the members of the ,committee perform2 and 7,b7 represent a cross-section of interests in rural telecommunications policy1 including individuals-- 7i7 7,i7 with expertise in spectrum management and efficiency in rural areas2 or 7,,ii7 who have provided policy recommendations with respect to advancing the principles described in section #bed7;b71 including1 to ensure that next-generation telecommunications services are deployed in rural areas in a timely manner1 experience in-- 7aa7 offering recommendations2 7bb7 conducting studies1 research1 or reforms2 and 7cc7 establishing new or novel approaches to policy or spectrum usage or licensing2 and 7ii7 who have-- 7,i7 represented-- 7aa7 telecommunications providers that serve rural areas2 7bb7 technology developers and manufacturers2 7cc7 ,federal1 ,state1 regional1 and local interests2 7dd7 national security interests2 or 7ee7 entities that seek to protect consumers2 or 7,,ii7 worked in-- 7aa7 academia2 or 7bb7 the field of public safety4 7#f7 ,co-,chairs 7,a7 ,appointment ,the chairman of the ,commission and the senior commissioner of the ,commission from the party of which the chairman is not a member shall each appoint a co-,chair of the ,committee4 7,b7 ,removal ,each co-,chair of the ,committee may be removed only upon the concurrence of both the chairman of the ,commission and the senior commissioner of the ,commission from the party of which the chairman is not a member4 7d7 ,meetings ,the ,committee-- 7#a7 shall meet not less frequently than once every #d months2 and 7#b7 may meet more frequently than as described in paragraph 7#a71 as determined by the co-,chairs4 7e7 ,reports 7#a7 ,annual report ,the ,committee shall submit to the ,commission1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives an annual report that describes the activities of the ,committee during the preceding year4 7#b7 ,servicing rural areas 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,committee shall submit to the ,commission1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives a report that defines1 in accordance with the principles described in section #bed7;b71 what constitutes a rural area that has access to telecommunications and information technologies and services4 7,b7 ,updates ,the ,committee may update the report submitted under subparagraph 7,a71 as the co-,chairs determine is appropriate4 7f7 ,advice on agenda items ,the ,committee may be called before the ,commission to consider the impact of agenda items of the ,commission on the provision of telecommunications services in rural areas4 7g7 ,expenses 7#a7 ,in general ,members of the ,committee shall not receive compensation1 travel expenses1 or a per diem for the work of the members of the ,committee4 7#b7 ,use of electronic means ,the ,committee shall use telecommunications services and electronic resources to the maximum extent possible to-- 7,a7 facilitate the work of the ,committee2 and 7,b7 minimize the expenses incurred by the members of the ,committee in performing the work of the ,committee4 7h7 ,applicability of ,,faca ,sections #aj and #ad of the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the ,committee or the activities of the ,committee4 4