,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #debi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #ac1 #bjbj,mr4 ,heinrich introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to improve access by ,indian ,tribes to support from the ,schools and ,libraries ,universal ,service ,support program 7,e-rate7 of the ,federal ,communications ,commission1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,tribal ,connect ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,eligibility of tribal libraries and qualifying essential community-serving institutions for e-rate support ,section #bed of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bed7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7h77#d71 by inserting 1 except as provided in subsection 7m71 before is a library or library consortium2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7m7 ,eligibility of tribal libraries and qualifying essential community-,serving institutions for ,e-,rate support 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection-- 7,a7 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,b7 the term ,e-rate program means the universal service program for schools and libraries authorized under subsection 7h77#a77;,b71 the rules of which are set forth under subpart ,f of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation71 as authorized under subsection 7h77#b77;,a72 7,c7 the term ,e-rate support means universal service discounts on eligible services in accordance with subpart ,f of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation71 as authorized under subsection 7h77#b77;,a72 7,d7 the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term ,indian tribe in section #bj4ajj of title #be1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation2 7,e7 the term qualifying essential community-serving institution means a facility exclusively owned by an ,indian ,tribe1 including a tribal government building1 chapter house1 longhouse1 community center1 senior center1 or other similar public building2 and 7,f7 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 7#b7 ,eligibility of tribal libraries for e-rate support 7,a7 ,designation of tribal libraries as libraries eligible for e-rate support 7i7 ,in general ,an ,indian ,tribe that is eligible for support under section #bfa of the ,library ,services and ,technology ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iafa7 may designate a tribal library or tribal library consortium1 including a public-serving library of a ,tribal ,college or ,university1 as a library or consortium that is eligible for ,e-rate support1 without regard to whether the library or library consortium is eligible for assistance from a ,state ,library ,administrative ,agency under the ,library ,services and ,technology ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iaba et seq471 if the library or library consortium is eligible for support from an ,indian ,tribe under such section #bfa4 7ii7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in clause 7i7 shall be construed to exempt a tribal library from any requirement under the ,e-rate program not described in that clause1 including the other requirements relating to eligible recipients under section #ed4eja of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation74 7,b7 ,tribal essential community-serving institution demonstration program 7i7 ,in general ,the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services and any other agency with relevant responsibilities1 shall establish a pilot program to be known as the ,tribal ,essential ,community-,serving ,institution ,program1 under which the ,commission shall provide ,e-rate support to ,indian ,tribes for qualifying essential community-serving institutions1 as designated by an ,indian ,tribe4 7ii7 ,eligibility ,e-rate support obtained under this subparagraph shall only be available to an ,indian ,tribe if the proposed qualifying essential community-serving institution intends to deliver publicly available internet access and telecommunications services to students1 teachers1 librarians1 and members of the community4 7iii7 ,eligibility for ,e-rate after the demonstration program ,a qualifying essential community-serving institution that receives ,e-rate support under this subparagraph shall be eligible for ,e-rate support at the end of the #c-year period described in subparagraph 7,c74 7,c7 ,use of contributions ,of the amount collected for the ,universal ,service ,fund under subsection 7d71 #ajj1jjj1jjj shall be made available for the #c-;fiscal-year period beginning after the date of enactment of the ,tribal ,connect ,act of #bjbj to the ,commission to carry out this paragraph4 7#c7 ,training and technical assistance for tribal schools and libraries 7,a7 ,annual reports ,the ,commission shall-- 7i7 direct the ,administrator of the ,schools and ,libraries ,universal ,service ,support program to submit an annual report to the ,commission regarding the actions of the ,schools and ,libraries ,universal ,service ,support program to ensure that tribal schools and libraries can participate fully and effectively in the ,e-rate program1 including-- 7,i7 outreach efforts targeted to tribal schools and libraries to promote awareness of the ,e-rate program2 7,,ii7 specific ,e-rate training programs for tribal schools and libraries2 and 7,,iii7 other technical assistance initiatives regarding the program's application process that are available to tribal schools and libraries2 and 7ii7 submit each annual report described in clause 7i7 to-- 7,i7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7,,ii7 the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs of the ,senate2 7,,iii7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,,iv7 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,b7 ,review of annual reports ,the ,commission shall review each annual report required under subparagraph 7,a7 to determine whether additional steps are necessary to ensure that tribal schools and libraries can participate fully and effectively in the ,e-rate program4 7,c7 ,universal service fund technical assistance and training ,the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services1 shall provide technical assistance and training to ,indian ,tribes with respect to ,universal ,service ,fund programs4 7#d7 ,coordination and performance measurement ,the ,commission shall-- 7,a7 improve the reliability of the data of the ,commission relating to institutions that receive ,e-rate support by defining the term tribal on the application for ,e-rate support2 and 7,b7 7i7 develop performance goals and measures to track progress on achieving the strategic objective of the ,commission of ensuring that all ,indian ,tribes have affordable access to broadband internet access service for educational purposes for students1 teachers1 librarians1 and members of the community2 7ii7 in coordination with the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services1 identify all tribal libraries and developing tribal libraries in the ,united ,states2 and 7iii7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 submit to ,congress and make public a report on the goals and measures developed under clause 7i7 and the list of libraries identified under clause 7ii74 4