,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #debi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #bf1 #bjai,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney of ,new ,york introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,federal ,communications ,commission to establish a program to make grants to ,states to inform ,medicaid enrollees and ,,snap participants of potential eligibility for the ,lifeline program of the ,commission4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,promoting ,access to ,broadband ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,lifeline enrollment outreach grants 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#b7 ,covered individuals ,the term covered individuals means-- 7,a7 in the case of a ,state applying for a grant to inform ,medicaid enrollees of potential ,lifeline program eligibility1 ,medicaid enrollees2 7,b7 in the case of a ,state applying for a grant to inform ,,snap participants of potential ,lifeline program eligibility1 ,,snap participants2 and 7,c7 in the case of a ,state applying for a grant to inform both ,medicaid enrollees and ,,snap participants of potential ,lifeline program eligibility1 ,medicaid enrollees and ,,snap participants4 7#c7 ,eligible-but-not-enrolled ,the term eligible-but-not-enrolled means1 with respect to an individual1 that the individual is eligible for the ,lifeline program but is not enrolled in the ,lifeline program4 7#d7 ,lifeline program ,the term ,lifeline program means the ,lifeline program of the ,commission4 7#e7 ,medicaid enrollee ,the term ,medicaid enrollee means1 with respect to a ,state1 an individual enrolled in the ,state plan under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq47 or a waiver of that plan4 7#f7 ,reach ,the term reach means1 with respect to an individual1 to inform the individual of potential eligibility for the ,lifeline program and to provide the individual with information about the ,lifeline program1 as described in subsection 7e74 7#g7 ,,snap participant ,the term ,,snap participant means an individual who is a member of a household that participates in the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq474 7#h7 ,state ,the term ,state means each ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 each commonwealth1 territory1 or possession of the ,united ,states1 and each federally recognized ,indian ,tribe4 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,commission shall establish a competitive program to make grants to ,states to inform ,medicaid enrollees or ,,snap participants1 or both1 of potential eligibility for the ,lifeline program4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission may only award a grant under this section to a ,state that submits an application at such time1 in such form1 and with such information and assurances as the ,commission may require4 7#b7 ,matters required to be included ,an application submitted by a ,state under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 the number of covered individuals in the ,state2 7,b7 a plan for the activities that the ,state will conduct using grant funds1 including a list of each agency within the ,state that will assist in carrying out those activities2 and 7,c7 an estimate of the percentage of eligible-but-not-enrolled individuals in the ,state who will be reached by those activities4 7d7 ,selection 7#a7 ,minimum of #e ,states ,the ,commission shall award grants under this section to not fewer than #e ,states4 7#b7 ,factors for consideration ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,commission shall give favorable consideration-- 7,a7 to ,states that have higher numbers of covered individuals2 and 7,b7 to ,states proposing1 in the plans submitted under subsection 7c77#b77;,b71 to conduct activities that have the potential to reach higher percentages of eligible-but-not-enrolled individuals in those ,states1 as determined by the ,commission1 taking into consideration the estimates submitted under subsection 7c77#b77;,c74 7#c7 ,geographic diversity ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,commission shall1 to the maximum extent practicable1 select ,states from different geographic regions of the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state that receives a grant under this section shall use grant funds1 in accordance with the plan included in the application of the ,state under subsection 7c77#b77;,b71 to-- 7,a7 inform ,medicaid enrollees or ,,snap participants1 or both1 and organizations or agencies that serve those individuals1 as the case may be under the terms of the grant awarded to the ,state1 of potential eligibility for the ,lifeline program2 7,b7 provide those enrollees or participants1 or both1 as the case may be1 with information about the ,lifeline program1 including-- 7i7 how to apply for the ,lifeline program2 and 7ii7 a description of the prohibition on more than #a subscriber in each household receiving a service provided under the ,lifeline program2 and 7,c7 partner with nonprofit and community-based organizations to provide those enrollees or participants1 or both1 as the case may be1 with assistance applying for the ,lifeline program and information about product and technology choices4 7#b7 ,multiple ,state agencies ,a ,state that receives a grant under this section may provide grant funds to one or more agencies located within the ,state to carry out the activities under the grant4 7f7 ,outreach to ,states regarding grant program ,before accepting applications for the grant program established under this section1 the ,commission shall conduct outreach to ,states to ensure that ,states are aware of the grant program and how to apply for a grant under the grant program4 7g7 ,report to ,congress 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after establishing the grant program under this section1 the ,commission shall submit to ,congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program4 7#b7 ,contents ,the report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 the number of individuals notified of ,lifeline program eligibility by ,states receiving grants under this section2 7,b7 the number of new applicants to the ,lifeline program from ,states receiving grants under this section1 including the number of those applicants whose ,lifeline program applications were approved and the number of those applicants whose ,lifeline program applications were denied2 and 7,c7 the cost-effectiveness of the grant program established under this section4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for the first #e full fiscal years beginning after the establishment of the grant program under this section4