,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #adhe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ae1 #bjai,mr4 ,manchin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,gardner7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband internet access coverage data1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,map ,improvement ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administration ,the term ,administration means the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration4 7#b7 ,broadband internet access service ,the term broadband internet access service-- 7,a7 means mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints1 including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service1 but excluding dial-up internet access service2 7,b7 includes any service that the ,commission finds to be providing a functional equivalent of the service described in subparagraph 7,a7 or that is used to evade the protections set forth in part #h of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor thereto2 and 7,c7 does not include dial-up internet access service4 7#c7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#d7 ,end user ,the term end user means any individual or entity that uses a broadband internet access service4 7#e7 ,fixed broadband internet access service ,the term fixed broadband internet access service means-- 7,a7 a broadband internet access service that serves end users primarily at fixed endpoints using stationary equipment2 and 7,b7 includes fixed wireless services1 including fixed unlicensed wireless services1 and fixed satellite services4 7#f7 ,,gis ,the term ,,gis means geographic information systems4 7#g7 ,mobile broadband internet access service ,the term mobile broadband internet access service has the meaning given the term commercial mobile service in section #ccb7;d77#a7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #ccb7;d77#a774 #c4 ,collection and mapping of fixed and mobile broadband internet access coverage 7a7 ,standardized methodology rule 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission1 in coordination with the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration1 shall promulgate a final rule to establish a standardized methodology for collecting and mapping accurate fixed and mobile broadband internet access service coverage data in the ,united ,states1 which shall-- 7,a7 ensure that coverage data for fixed and mobile broadband internet access services is collected in a standardized1 consistent1 and robust manner2 7,b7 improve the validity and reliability of coverage data2 7,c7 increase the efficiency of coverage data collection2 7,d7 contain standard definitions for different speed tiers1 such as the #b;,g1 #c;,g1 #d;,g1 and #d;,g ,,lte tiers and the equivalent for fixed broadband internet access service2 7,e7 ensure that the collection and validation process occurs on a regular basis2 and 7,f7 establish a standardized ongoing validation process and public feedback mechanism that will allow for consumers1 ,state and local officials1 and carriers to submit data to the ,commission to verify coverage data from carriers and challenge any areas they feel are misrepresented4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in promulgating the rule required under paragraph 7#a71 the ,commission shall consider-- 7,a7 coordinating with the ,united ,states ,postal ,service1 other ,federal delivery fleet vehicles1 and the ,bureau of the ,census for assistance with data collection and the feasibility of using more granular address level data2 and 7,b7 creating #a centralized national map with multiple layers1 including a layer each for fixed broadband internet access service and mobile broadband internet access service1 which shall be used in determining eligibility for all ,federal broadband internet access grant1 loan1 and subsidy programs4 7#c7 ,establishment of ,office ,the ,commission shall establish an ,office of ,broadband ,data ,collection and ,mapping within the ,commission to serve as the central point of collection1 aggregation1 and validation of data collected under the standardized methodology established under this subsection4 7b7 ,technical assistance program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administration shall establish a technical assistance program under which the ,administration shall provide grants to ,state and local entities1 such as regional planning organizations1 to-- 7,a7 assist with mapping and the development of a ,,gis-based map of existing serviceability for fixed and mobile broadband internet access service2 and 7,b7 assess current broadband internet access service adoption rates and advertised broadband internet access service pricing in the community4 7#b7 ,use of funds ,funds received under this subsection-- 7,a7 shall be used to participate in the standardized ongoing validation process and public feedback mechanism described in subsection 7a77#a77;,f72 and 7,b7 may be used to purchase ,,gis software and for technical assistance with that software4 7#c7 ,other uses for ,,gis software ,a regional planning organization may use ,,gis software acquired using funds received under this subsection for other purposes in addition to broadband internet access service mapping4