,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ccdf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #a1 #bjah,ms4 ,cortez ,masto 7for herself and ,mr4 ,gardner7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,office of ,internet ,connectivity and ,growth1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,advancing ,critical ,connectivity ,expands ,service1 ,small ,business ,resources1 ,opportunities1 ,access1 and ,data ,based on ,assessed ,need and ,demand ,act or the ,,access ,,broadband ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,agency ,the term agency has the meaning given that term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,assistant secretary ,the term ,assistant ,secretary means the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,communications and ,information4 7#c7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#d7 ,federal broadband support program ,the term ,federal broadband support program does not include any ,universal ,service ,fund program and means any of the following programs 7or any other similar ,federal program7 to the extent the program offers broadband internet service or programs for promoting broadband access and adoption for various demographic communities through various media for residential1 commercial1 or community providers1 or academic establishments3 7,a7 ,the ,telecommunications and ,technology ,program of the ,appalachian ,regional ,commission4 7,b7 ,the following programs of the ,rural ,utilities ,service of the ,department of ,agriculture3 7i7 ,the ,telecommunications ,infrastructure ,loan and ,loan ,guarantee ,program4 7ii7 ,the ,rural ,broadband ,access ,loan and ,loan ,guarantee ,program4 7iii7 ,the ,substantially ,underserved ,trust ,area ,initiative4 7iv7 ,the ,community ,connect ,grant ,program4 7v7 ,the ,distance ,learning and ,telemedicine ,grant ,program4 7,c7 ,the following programs of the ,economic ,development ,administration of the ,department of ,commerce3 7i7 ,the ,public ,works and ,economic ,adjustment ,assistance ,programs4 7ii7 ,the ,planning and ,local ,technical ,assistance ,programs4 7,d7 ,the following programs of the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development3 7i7 ,the ,community ,development ,block ,grant ,program4 7ii7 ,the ,section #ajh ,loan ,guarantee ,program4 7iii7 ,the ,public ,housing ,capital ,fund4 7iv7 ,the ,public ,housing ,operating ,fund4 7v7 ,the ,multifamily ,housing ,programs4 7vi7 ,the ,indian ,community ,development ,block ,grant ,program4 7vii7 ,the ,indian ,housing ,block ,grant ,program4 7viii7 ,the ,title ,,vi ,loan ,guarantee ,program4 7ix7 ,the ,choice ,neighborhoods ,program4 7x7 ,the ,,home ,investment ,partnerships ,program4 7xi7 ,the ,housing ,trust ,fund4 7xii7 ,the ,housing ,opportunities for ,persons ,with ,,aids ,program4 7,e7 ,the ,american ,job ,centers of the ,employment and ,training ,administration of the ,department of ,labor4 7,f7 ,the ,library ,services and ,technology ,grant ,programs of the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services4 7#e7 ,office ,the term ,office means the ,office of ,internet ,connectivity and ,growth established under section #c4 7#f7 ,universal ,service ,fund program ,the term ,universal ,service ,fund program means any program authorized under section #bed of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bed7 to help deploy broadband4 7#g7 ,universal service mechanism ,the term universal service mechanism means any funding stream provided by a ,universal ,service ,fund program to support broadband access4 #c4 ,establishment of ,office of ,internet ,connectivity and ,growth ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall establish the ,office of ,internet ,connectivity and ,growth within the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration4 #d4 ,duties 7a7 ,outreach ,the ,office shall-- 7#a7 connect with communities that need access to high-speed internet and improved digital inclusion efforts through various forms of outreach and communication techniques2 7#b7 hold regional workshops across the ,united ,states to share best practices and effective strategies for promoting broadband access and adoption2 7#c7 develop targeted broadband training and presentations for various demographic communities through various media2 and 7#d7 develop and distribute publications 7including toolkits1 primers1 manuals1 and white papers7 providing guidance1 strategies1 and insights to communities as the communities develop strategies to expand broadband access and adoption4 7b7 ,tracking of ,federal dollars 7#a7 ,broadband infrastructure ,the ,office shall track the construction and use of and access to any broadband infrastructure built using any ,federal support in a central database4 7#b7 ,accounting mechanism ,the ,office shall develop a streamlined accounting mechanism by which any agency offering a ,federal broadband support program1 and the ,commission through the ,universal ,service ,fund1 shall provide the information described in paragraph 7#a7 in a standardized and efficient fashion4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every year thereafter1 the ,office shall make public on the website of the ,office and submit to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the following3 7,a7 ,a description of the work of the ,office for the previous year and the number of residents of the ,united ,states who received broadband access as a result of a ,federal broadband support program or a ,universal ,service ,fund program4 7,b7 ,the number of residents of the ,united ,states described in subparagraph 7,a71 broken down by the ,federal broadband support program or universal service mechanism to which the broadband access was attributable4 7,c7 ,an estimate of the economic impact of the broadband deployment efforts described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 on local economies1 including any effect on small businesses or jobs4 #e4 ,streamlined applications for support 7a7 ,agency consultation ,the ,office shall consult with any agency offering a ,federal broadband support program to streamline and standardize the application process for grants or other financial assistance from the program4 7b7 ,agency streamlining ,any agency offering a ,federal broadband support program shall amend the application for broadband support from that program1 to the extent practicable and as necessary1 to streamline and standardize applications for ,federal broadband support programs across the ,federal ,government4 7c7 ,single application ,to the greatest extent practicable1 the ,office shall seek to create #a application that may be submitted to apply for all1 or substantially all1 ,federal broadband support programs4 7d7 ,website required ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,office shall create a central website through which a potential applicant can learn about and apply for support through any ,federal broadband support program4 #f4 ,coordination of support ,the ,office1 any agency that offers a ,federal broadband support program1 and the ,commission1 through the ,universal ,service ,fund1 shall coordinate with each other to ensure that ,federal support for broadband is being distributed in an efficient1 technology-neutral1 and financially sustainable manner1 with the goal of serving the largest number of persons in the ,united ,states while avoiding overbuilding and promoting the most job and economic growth for all residents of the ,united ,states4 #g4 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act is intended to alter or amend any provision of section #bed of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bed74 #h4 ,no additional funds authorized ,no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act4 ,this ,act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized4