,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #djba ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bb1 #bjbj,mr4 ,wicker 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,capito1 and ,mrs4 ,blackburn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to accelerate rural broadband deployment4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,accelerating ,broadband ,connectivity ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,accelerating broadband connectivity 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission2 7#b7 the terms ,phase ,i and ,phase ,,ii mean ,phase ,i and ,phase ,,ii1 respectively1 of the ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund auction provided for in the ,report and ,order in the matter of ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund and ,connect ,america ,fund adopted by the ,commission on ,january #cj1 #bjbj 7,,fcc #bj-e72 7#c7 the term qualified carrier means a terrestrial telecommunications carrier that receives support from the ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund under subpart ,j of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulations2 and 7#d7 the term ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund support means support from the ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund under subpart ,j of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulations4 7b7 ,accelerating ,broadband ,connectivity ,fund ,there is established in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states a fund to be known as the ,accelerating ,broadband ,connectivity ,fund4 7c7 ,availability of funds ,the ,commission may use amounts in the ,accelerating ,broadband ,connectivity ,fund to provide support to qualified carriers in accordance with subsection 7d74 7d7 ,amount and use of funds 7#a7 ,in general 7,a7 ,phase ,i support recipients ,the ,commission shall make one-time funding offers to qualified carriers that receive ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund support during ,phase ,i1 and that commit to meeting the conditions under paragraph 7#b71 to accelerate the broadband deployment obligations assumed by those carriers with respect to that support4 7,b7 ,phase ,,ii support recipients ,the ,commission shall use any amounts in the ,accelerating ,broadband ,connectivity ,fund that are not otherwise committed under subparagraph 7,a7 to make one-time funding offers to qualified carriers that receive ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund support during ,phase ,,ii1 and that commit to meeting the conditions under paragraph 7#b71 to accelerate the broadband deployment obligations assumed by those carriers with respect to that support4 7#b7 ,conditions 7,a7 ,in general ,a qualified carrier that receives amounts under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7i7 begin construction of the broadband network for which the amounts are awarded not later than #ahj days after the date on which the award under paragraph 7#a7 is authorized2 7ii7 begin to make broadband service available from the broadband network deployed using ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund support not later than #a year after the date on which the award under paragraph 7#a7 is authorized2 and 7iii7 meet all buildout obligations from the ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund support not later than #c years after the date on which the award under paragraph 7#a7 is authorized4 7,b7 ,force majeure ,the ,commission shall adopt rules under subsection 7f77#a7 to provide for the extension of a deadline under subparagraph 7,a7 of this paragraph if an event outside the control of a qualified carrier prevents the qualified carrier from meeting the deadline4 7#c7 ,amount of award ,the amount awarded to a qualified carrier under paragraph 7#a7 shall be proportional to the amount of ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund support received by the qualified carrier4 7e7 ,documentation required ,a qualified carrier that receives amounts under this section shall-- 7#a7 maintain appropriate documentation demonstrating the use of the amounts2 and 7#b7 make the documentation described in paragraph 7#a7 available upon request as prescribed by the ,commission4 7f7 ,expedited rulemaking 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall adopt rules to carry out this section as needed on an expedited basis4 7#b7 ,use of existing rules authorized ,to the extent the ,commission determines necessary in the public interest1 the ,commission may rely on the rules under part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 and funding distribution mechanisms established under those rules in administering funds made available under this section4 7#c7 ,administrative ,procedure ,act exemption ,the ,commission shall adopt rules under paragraph 7#a7 without regard to the notice and comment requirements under section #eec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#d7 ,paperwork ,reduction ,act exemption ,a collection of information conducted or sponsored under this section shall not constitute a collection of information for the purposes of subchapter ,i of chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly referred to as the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act74 7g7 ,enforcement 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall implement and enforce this section as if it were a part of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq474 7#b7 ,unlawful funding application 7,a7 ,offense ,it shall be unlawful for a person to willfully1 knowingly1 or recklessly seek funding under this section if doing so would violate-- 7i7 this section2 or 7ii7 any rules of the ,commission4 7,b7 ,forfeitures ,any person who violates subparagraph 7,a7 shall be subject to a forfeiture in an amount of not more than #c times the amount of funds made available to the person under this section1 in addition to any forfeiture authorized under section #ejc of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #ejc74 7#c7 ,audit and inquiry requirements ,the ,commission shall adopt requirements1 through the expedited rulemaking under subsection 7f71 to-- 7,a7 ensure that a qualified carrier that receives amounts under this section complies with the requirements of this section2 and 7,b7 prevent waste1 fraud1 and abuse of the amounts distributed under this section4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,accelerating ,broadband ,connectivity ,fund #f1jjj1jjj1jjj for purposes of this section4