,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddbb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #d1 #bjbj,mr4 ,wicker 7for himself and ,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina7 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 ,minority ,broadband ,initiatives within the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term anchor community means any area that-- 7,a7 is not more than #cj miles from a historically ,black college or university1 a ,tribal ,college or ,university1 or a ,hispanic-serving institution2 and 7,b7 has an estimated median annual household income of not more than #bej percent of the poverty line1 as that term is defined in section #fgc7b7 of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb7b772 7#b7 the term ,assistant ,secretary means the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,communications and ,information2 7#c7 the term broadband internet access service has the meaning given the term in section #h4a7;b7 of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation2 7#d7 the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission2 7#e7 the term connected device means a laptop computer1 tablet computer1 or similar device that is capable of connecting to broadband internet access service2 7#f7 the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office2 7#g7 the term eligible equipment means-- 7,a7 a ,wi-,fi hotspot2 7,b7 a modem2 7,c7 a router2 7,d7 a device that combines a modem and router2 7,e7 a connected device2 or 7,f7 any other equipment used to provide access to broadband internet access service2 7#h7 the term eligible recipient means-- 7,a7 a historically ,black college or university2 7,b7 a ,tribal ,college or ,university2 7,c7 a ,hispanic-serving institution2 or 7,d7 a consortium led by a historically ,black college or university1 a ,tribal ,college or ,university1 or a ,hispanic-serving institution that also includes-- 7i7 an elementary or secondary school2 7ii7 a library2 7iii7 a minority business enterprise2 or 7iv7 an organization described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from tax under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code2 7#i7 the term ,hispanic-serving institution has the meaning given the term in section #ejb7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja;a7a772 7#aj7 the term historically ,black college or university has the meaning given the term part ,b institution in section #cbb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfa72 7#aa7 the term minority business enterprise has the meaning given the term in section #adjj4b of title #ae1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation2 7#ab7 the term ,office means the ,office of ,minority ,broadband ,initiatives established pursuant to section #c7;a72 7#ac7 the term ,pilot ,program means the ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,pilot ,program established under the rules promulgated by the ,assistant ,secretary under section #e7;a72 7#ad7 the term ,task ,force means the ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,task ,force established under section #d7;a72 and 7#ae7 the term ,tribal ,college or ,university has the meaning given the term in section #caf7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7b774 #c4 ,office of ,minority ,broadband ,initiatives 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall establish within the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration the ,office of ,minority ,broadband ,initiatives4 7b7 ,director ,the ,office shall be headed by the ,director of the ,office of ,minority ,broadband ,initiatives1 who shall be appointed by the ,assistant ,secretary4 7c7 ,duties ,the ,office1 acting through the ,director1 shall-- 7#a7 collaborate with ,federal agencies that carry out broadband internet access service support programs to determine how to expand access to broadband internet access service and other digital opportunities in anchor communities2 7#b7 collaborate with ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 historically ,black colleges or universities1 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities1 ,hispanic-serving institutions1 and stakeholders in the telecommunications1 education1 business1 and technology fields to-- 7,a7 promote-- 7i7 initiatives relating to broadband internet access service connectivity for anchor communities2 and 7ii7 digital opportunities for anchor communities2 7,b7 develop recommendations to promote the rapid1 expanded deployment of broadband internet access service to unserved historically ,black colleges or universities1 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities1 ,hispanic-serving institutions1 and anchor communities1 including to senior citizens and veterans who live in anchor communities2 7,c7 promote activities that would accelerate the adoption of broadband internet access service 7including any associated equipment or personnel necessary to access and use that service1 such as modems1 routers1 devices that combine a modem and a router1 ,wi-,fi hotspots1 and connected devices7-- 7i7 by historically ,black colleges or universities1 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities1 and ,hispanic-serving institutions2 and 7ii7 within anchor communities2 7,d7 upon request1 provide assistance to historically ,black colleges or universities1 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities1 ,hispanic-serving institutions1 and leaders from anchor communities with respect to navigating ,federal programs dealing with broadband internet access service2 7,e7 promote digital literacy skills1 including by providing opportunities for virtual or in-person digital literacy training and education2 and 7,f7 explore how to leverage investment in infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service to-- 7i7 expand connectivity with respect to that service in anchor communities2 7ii7 encourage investment in communities that have been designated as qualified opportunity zones under section #adjj,z-#a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7iii7 serve as a catalyst for adoption of that service1 so as to promote job growth and economic development and deployment of advanced mobile technologies2 7#c7 assume any functions carried out under the ,minority ,broadband ,initiative of the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration1 as of the day before the date of enactment of this ,act2 and 7#d7 perform other duties1 as designated by the ,assistant ,secretary4 7d7 ,reports 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date on which the ,assistant ,secretary establishes the ,office under subsection 7a71 and annually thereafter1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall 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 that-- 7,a7 for the year covered by the report1 details the work of the ,office in expanding access to fixed and mobile broadband internet access service coverage-- 7i7 at historically ,black colleges or universities1 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities1 and ,hispanic-serving institutions2 and 7ii7 within anchor communities2 and 7,b7 identifies barriers to providing broadband internet access service-- 7i7 at historically ,black colleges or universities1 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities1 and ,hispanic-serving institutions2 and 7ii7 within anchor communities4 7#b7 ,public availability ,not later than #cj days after the date on which the ,assistant ,secretary submits a report under paragraph 7#a71 the ,assistant ,secretary shall1 to the extent feasible1 make that report publicly available4 #d4 ,task ,force 7a7 ,in general ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall establish the ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,task ,force to advise the ,office on matters relating to expanding broadband internet access service to historically ,black colleges or universities1 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities1 ,hispanic-serving institutions1 and anchor communities4 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,task ,force shall-- 7,a7 be composed of not more than #ae voting members-- 7i7 who1 subject to subparagraph 7,b71 shall be selected by the ,assistant ,secretary2 and 7ii7 #a of whom shall be designated by the ,assistant ,secretary as the ,chair of the ,task ,force2 and 7,b7 include representatives 7who shall be fairly balanced with respect to technologies1 points of view1 and fields represented7 from-- 7i7 historically ,black colleges or universities2 7ii7 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities2 7iii7 ,hispanic-serving institutions2 7iv7 anchor communities2 7v7 minority business enterprises2 7vi7 internet service providers1 including regional or rural fixed and mobile broadband internet access service providers and telecommunications infrastructure providers2 7vii7 the electric cooperative industry2 7viii7 the satellite industry2 7ix7 ,state and local governments2 and 7x7 civil rights organizations4 7#b7 ,period of appointment2 vacancies 7,a7 ,in general ,each member of the ,task ,force shall serve for a single term of #b years4 7,b7 ,vacancy ,any vacancy in the ,task ,force-- 7i7 shall not affect the powers of the ,task ,force2 and 7ii7 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment4 7,c7 ,ex-officio member ,the ,chairman of the ,commission1 or a designee of the ,chairman1 shall serve as an ex-officio1 nonvoting member of the ,task ,force4 7c7 ,applicability of ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply with respect to the ,task ,force or the activities of the ,task ,force4 #e4 ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,pilot ,program 7a7 ,rules required 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall promulgate rules establishing the ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,pilot ,program1 the purpose of which shall be to provide grants to eligible recipients in anchor communities for the purchase of broadband internet access service or any eligible equipment1 or to hire information technology personnel-- 7,a7 to facilitate educational instruction and learning1 including through remote instruction2 7,b7 in the case of an eligible recipient described in section #b7h77;,d77iii71 to operate the minority business enterprise2 or 7,c7 in the case of an eligible recipient described in section #b7h77;,d77iv71 to operate the organization4 7#b7 ,content ,the rules promulgated under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 establish a method for identifying which eligible recipients in anchor communities have the greatest unmet financial needs2 7,b7 ensure that grants under the ,pilot ,program are made-- 7i7 to eligible recipients identified under the method established under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 in a manner that best achieves the purposes of the ,pilot ,program2 7,c7 provide that a recipient of a grant under the ,pilot ,program-- 7i7 shall use eligible equipment for a purpose that the recipient considers to be appropriate1 subject to any restriction provided in those rules 7or any successor rules72 7ii7 if the recipient lends1 or otherwise provides1 eligible equipment to students or patrons1 shall prioritize lending or providing to such individuals that the recipient believes do not have access to that equipment1 subject to any restriction provided in those rules 7or any successor rules72 and 7iii7 may not sell or otherwise transfer eligible equipment in exchange for any thing 7including a service7 of value2 and 7,d7 include audit requirements that-- 7i7 ensure that a recipient of a grant made under the ,pilot ,program uses grant funds in compliance with the requirements of this section and the overall purpose of the ,pilot ,program2 and 7ii7 prevent waste1 fraud1 and abuse in the operation of the ,pilot ,program4 7b7 ,fund 7#a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states a fund to be known as the ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,fund4 7#b7 ,use of fund ,amounts in the ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,fund established under paragraph 7#a7 shall be available to the ,assistant ,secretary to provide support under the rules promulgated under subsection 7a74 7c7 ,interagency coordination ,when making grants under the ,pilot ,program1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall coordinate with other ,federal agencies1 including the ,commission and the ,department of ,education4 7d7 ,audits 7#a7 ,in general ,for each of fiscal years #bjba and #bjbb1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,commerce shall conduct an audit of the ,pilot ,program according to the requirements established under subsection 7a77#b77;,d74 7#b7 ,report ,after completing each audit conducted under paragraph 7#a71 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,commerce shall 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 that details the findings of the audit4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,connecting ,minority ,communities ,fund established under subsection 7b7 #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj1 which shall remain available until expended4 7f7 ,termination ,the ,pilot ,program1 including all reporting requirements under this section 7except for the report required under subsection 7g771 shall terminate on the date on which the amounts made available to carry out the ,pilot ,program are fully expended4 7g7 ,report ,not later than #ij days after the date on which the ,pilot ,program terminates under subsection 7f71 the ,assistant ,secretary1 after consulting with the ,task ,force and eligible recipients that received grants under the ,pilot ,program1 shall 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 that-- 7#a7 describes the manner in which the ,pilot ,program was carried out2 7#b7 identifies each eligible recipient that received a grant under the ,pilot ,program2 and 7#c7 contains-- 7,a7 information regarding the effectiveness of the ,pilot ,program2 7,b7 recommendations regarding how the capacity of the ,pilot ,program could be expanded1 including an expansion to include as institutions that are eligible to receive grants under the ,pilot ,program-- 7i7 ,alaska ,native-serving institutions and ,native ,hawaiian-serving institutions1 as those terms are defined in section #cag7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;d7b772 and 7ii7 ,asian ,american and ,native ,american ,pacific ,islander-serving institutions1 as that term is defined in section #cbj7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;g7b772 and 7,c7 an estimate of the cost of funding the expansion described in subparagraph 7,b74