,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #dghi  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,octob] #a1 #bjbj,mr4  
,cornyn 7= himself & ,mr4 ,man*97       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,communications ,act
 ( #aicd to provide fund+ to ,/ates =   
ext5d+ broadb& s]vice to uns]v$ areas 9 
p>tn]%ip ) broadb& s]vice provid]s1 & = 
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act
 may be cit$ z ! ,elim9ate ! ,digital   
,divide ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,expansion ( 
broadb& access 9 uns]v$ areas  7a7 ,9   
g5]al ,! ,communications ,act ( #aicd   
7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq47 is am5d$-- 
7#a7 9 title ,i 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et  
seq471 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #ad4 
,expansion & adoption ( broadb& s]vice  
?r\gh ,/ate fund+  7a7 ,def9itions ,9   
?is section3 7#a7 ,broadb& fund+ p>tn]  
,! t]m broadb& fund+ p>tn] means an     
eligible entity t receives fund+ = a    
project "u ?is section4  7#b7 ,broadb&  

s]vice ,! t]m broadb& s]vice-- 7,a7     
means a mass-m>ket retail s]vice by wire
 or radio t provides ! capability to    
transmit data to & receive data f all or
 sub/antially all int]net endpo9ts1     
includ+ any capabilities t are incid5tal
 to & enable ! op]ation ( !             
communications s]vice2  7,b7 includes   
any s]vice t is a functional equival5t (
 ! s]vice describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a72 &
  7,c7 does n include dial-up int]net   
access s]vice4  7#c7 ,eligible entity ,!
 t]m eligible entity means a private    
provid] ( broadb& s]vice1 or a          
public-private p>tn]%ip or coop]ative   
7includ+ a subsidi>y ( a coop]ative7 t  
provides broadb& s]vice1 t has submitt$ 
to ! ,commission1 9 addition to any data
 requir$ to be submitt$ "u section #hjb1
 data reg>d+ ! s]vice option describ$ 9 
subsection 7f77#b7 t ! entity w\ld (f]  
if ! entity 7 to receive fund+ "u ?is   
section4  7#d7 ,high co/ area ,! t]m    
high co/ area means an area 9 :i* ! co/ 
( build+ out broadb& s]vice is high]1 z 

comp>$ ) ! av]age su* co/ 9 ! ,unit$    
,/ates 7& z det]m9$ by ! ,commission71  
because (-- 7,a7 ! remote location ( !  
area2  7,b7 ! sc>city ( s]vices 9 !     
area2  7,c7 ! unique topography ( !     
area2  7,d7 a high rate ( pov]ty 9 !    
area2 or  7,e7 any o!r factor t         
contributes to ! co/ ( build+ out t     
s]vice4  7#e7 ,location ,! t]m location 
has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m by ! ,commission 
"u rules & guidance t are 9 effect1 z ( 
! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section4  7#f7  
,project ,! t]m project means an        
und]tak+ by a broadb& fund+ p>tn] "u ?is
 section to con/ruct & deploy           
infra/ructure = ! provision ( broadb&   
s]vice4  7#g7 ,uns]v$ area ,! t]m uns]v$
 area means an area t1 z det]m9$ 9      
accordance ) ! maps creat$ "u section   
#hjb7;c77#a7-- 7,a7 has no access to    
broadb& s]vice2 or  7,b7 does n h access
 to broadb& s]vice (f]$-- 7i7 ) a       
d[nload spe$ ( at lea/ #be megabits p]  
second2 &  7ii7 ) an upload spe$ ( at   
lea/ #c megabits p] second4  7b7        

,program e/abli%$  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat]
 ?an #ajj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( 
?is section1 ! ,commission %all e/abli% 
a program = ,/ates to exp& access to    
broadb& s]vice 9 uns]v$ areas4  7#b7    
,relation%ip to univ]sal s]vice ,!      
program e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all  
be sep>ate f any univ]sal s]vice program
 e/abli%$ "u section #bed4  7c7 ,/ate   
program requirem5ts ,a ,/ate seek+ fund+
 "u ! program e/abli%$ "u subsection 7b7
 %all create a program t-- 7#a7         
implem5ts ! requirem5ts ( ?is section2  
7#b7 does n favor ! use ( any p>ticul>  
te*nology or any p>ticul> eligible      
entity2  7#c7 enc\rages small broadb&   
provid]s to p>ticipate 9 ! program ?r\gh
 /reaml9$ regulatory requirem5ts = all  
broadb& fund+ p>tn]s2  7#d7 takes into  
acc\nt-- 7,a7 ! size & scope ( ea*      
uns]v$ area1 & ! numb] ( locations1     
propos$ to be s]v$ by ea* project c>ri$ 
out us+ ! funds2 &  7,b7 ! spe$ ( !     
broadb& s]vice provid$ by eligible      
entities seek+ fund+ = projects "u !    

program2  7#e7 may take into acc\nt--   
7,a7 ! size & proportion ( ! mat*+ funds
 propos$ to be committ$ by ! eligible   
entities seek+ fund+ = projects "u !    
program1 :i* may n be provid$ f any     
funds d]iv$ f gov]nm5t grants1 loans1 or
 subsidies2  7,b7 ! spe$ ) :i* !        
eligible entities seek+ fund+ = projects
 "u ! program c complete ! propos$      
deploym5t & provision ( broadb& s]vice  
to h\seholds "u ^? projects2 &  7,c7    
:e!r an eligible entity seek+ fund+ = a 
project "u ! program has ! ability to   
lev]age ne>by or adjac5t broadb& s]vice 
provid$ by ! eligible entity to         
facilitate ! deploym5t & provision (    
broadb& s]vice propos$ "u t project2    
7#f7 e/abli%es-- 7,a7 p]iodic build\t   
mile/ones1 report+ requirem5ts1 &       
c]tification by broadb& fund+ p>tn]s2 & 
7,b7 a maximum build\t timeframe = a    
broadb& fund+ p>tn] ( #c ye>s1 beg9n+ on
 ! date on :i* fund+ is provid$ to !    
broadb& fund+ p>tn] to und]take a       
project1 except t ! ,/ate may ext5d t   

timeframe if ! broadb& fund+ p>tn]      
e/abli%es t ! failure to complete !     
project )9 t timeframe is due to-- 7i7  
delays by ?ird p>ties 9 provid+ necess>y
 p]mits1 approvals1 or access to 7or    
con/ruction (7 poles2 or  7ii7 a ,/ate  
or f$]ally decl>$ disa/]2  7#g7 conta9s 
suffici5t notice1 transp>5cy1           
acc\ntability1 & ov]sight measures to-- 
7,a7 provide ! public & broadb& fund+   
p>tn]s ) notice ( ! fund+ provid$ "u ?is
 section2 &  7,b7 det] wa/e1 fraud1 &   
abuse ( program funds2  7#h7 e/abli%es  
proc$ures = ! recov]y ( funds1 9 :ole or
 9 "p1 f a broadb& fund+ p>tn] if !     
broadb& fund+ p>tn]-- 7,a7 defaults or  
fails to comply ) ! build\t requirem5ts 
e/abli%$ = ! project ) respect to :i* ! 
fund+ relates2 &  7,b7 has n receiv$ an 
ext5sion "u p>agraph 7#f77;,b72  7#i7   
e/abli%es proc$ures = broadb& fund+     
p>tn]s to receive exp$it$ approval = all
 necess>y access to 7or con/ruction (7  
poles1 ,/ate & local rights-(-way       
p]mits1 or o!r approvals 9 ! areas ( !  

,/ate s]v$ by projects "u ! program2    
7#aj7 provides t broadb& fund+ p>tn]s   
are n requir$ to be designat$ z eligible
 telecommunications c>ri]s "u section   
#bad7;e72  7#aa7 provides t an eligible 
entity %all grant access to poles1      
ducts1 conduits1 & rights-(-way t !     
eligible entity owns or controls )9 !   
,/ate at rates1 t]ms1 & conditions      
regulat$ by ! ,commission "u1 or ! ,/ate
 consi/5t )1 section #bbd1 )\t reg>d to 
:e!r t section o!rwise applies ) respect
 to ^? items2 &  7#ab7 except z o!rwise 
explicitly provid$ 9 ?is section1 does n
 require1 or include consid]ation (1 !  
imposition ( any new or additional      
regulatory obligations on broadb& fund+ 
p>tn]s beyond ^? requir$ "u applicable  
law4  7d7 ,di/ribution ( funds to ,/ates
  7#a7 ,commission di/ributions  7,a7 ,9
 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #bjj days aft] ! date
 ( enactm5t ( ?is section1 !            
,commission1 "u ! program e/abli%$ "u   
subsection 7b71 & 9 accordance ) !      
requirem5ts ( ?is section1 %all1 )      

respect to ! am\nts made available to   
c>ry out ?is section-- 7i7 res]ve #aj   
p]c5t ( ^? am\nts = di/ributions "u     
subp>agraph 7,b7 to ,/ates t h e/abli%$ 
programs "u subsection 7c72 &  7ii7 ( ! 
am\nts n res]v$ "u clause 7i71 make     
di/ributions "u p>agraph 7#b7 to ,/ates 
t h e/abli%$ programs "u subsection 7c74
  7,b7 ,di/ributions = high co/ areas ,!
 am\nt ( a di/ribution to a ,/ate "u ?is
 subp>agraph %all be calculat$ z foll[s3
 7i7 ,divide ! numb] ( high co/ areas 9 
! ,/ate by ! total numb] ( high co/     
areas 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7ii7 ,multiply
 ! quoti5t obta9$ "u clause 7i7 by !    
total am\nt res]v$ "u subp>agraph       
7,a77i74  7#b7 ,am\nt ( di/ributions =  
project aw>ds ,! am\nt ( a di/ribution  
to a ,/ate "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be     
calculat$ z foll[s3 7,a7 ,divide ! numb]
 ( individuals liv+ 9 uns]v$ areas 9 !  
,/ate by ! total numb] ( individuals    
liv+ 9 uns]v$ areas 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 z
 det]m9$ 9 accordance ) ! maps creat$ "u
 section #hjb7;c77#a74  7,b7 ,multiply !

 quoti5t obta9$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 (   
?is p>agraph by ! am\nt describ$ 9      
p>agraph 7#a77;,a77ii74  7#c7 ,/ate     
entitlem5t ,) respect to a ,/ate t has  
e/abli%$ a program "u subsection 7c71 ! 
,/ate %all receive a di/ribution "u bo? 
( p>agraphs 7#a77;,b7 & 7#b7 ( ?is      
subsection4  7e7 ,/ate use ( program    
funds  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #abj   
days aft] ! date on :i* a ,/ate receives
 funds "u subsection 7d71 & subject to  
p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,/ate %all make aw>ds  
to eligible entities ?r\gh ! program    
e/abli%$ by ! ,/ate "u subsection 7c74  
7#b7 ,funds us$ solely = uns]v$ areas ,a
 ,/ate to :i* funds are di/ribut$ "u    
subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 may n-- 7i7 use   
any portion ( ^? funds = a project 9 any
 area t is n an uns]v$ area2 or  7ii7   
use m ?an #e p]c5t ( ^? funds to adm9i/]
 ! program e/abli%$ by ! ,/ate "u       
subsection 7c72 &  7,b7 %all-- 7i7 be=e 
mak+ any aw>ds describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a71
 consult ! maps creat$ "u section       
#hjb7;c77#a71 z updat$ ?r\gh !          

resolution ( any *all5ges br\ght "u     
section #hjb7;b77#e71 to create a li/ ( 
areas )9 ! ,/ate t are uns]v$ areas1 :i*
 ! ,/ate %all make publicly available2  
7ii7 f ! li/ creat$ "u clause 7i71      
remove any area 9 ! ,/ate t-- 7,i7 has  
be5 aw>d$ fund+ 9 ! ,rural ,digital     
,opportunity ,fund ,phase ,i auction    
provid$ = 9 ! ,report & ,ord] 9 ! matt] 
( ,rural ,digital ,opportunity ,fund &  
,connect ,am]ica ,fund adopt$ by !      
,commission on ,janu>y #cj1 #bjbj 7,,fcc
 #bj-e72  7,,ii7 has be5 aw>d$ fund+    
?r\gh any ,rural ,utilities ,s]vice     
broadb& fund+ program ) a m9imum spe$   
commitm5t ( #be megabits p] second =    
d[nloads & #c megabits p] second =      
uploads2  7,,iii7 has be5 aw>d$ fund+   
?r\gh any exi/+ program e/abli%$ by !   
,/ate ) m9imum spe$ commitm5ts describ$ 
9 subclause 7,,ii72 or  7,,iv7 is !     
subject ( an en=ceable commitm5t by a   
broadb& provid] to s]ve ! area ) m9imum 
spe$ commitm5ts describ$ 9 subclause    
7,,ii71 ev5 if1 9 any su* areas1 !      

s]vice is n yet available1 provid$ t !  
broadb& provid] is meet+ any applicable 
build-out deadl9es2  7iii7 e/abli% a    
/reaml9$ process t all[s a broadb&      
s]vice provid]1 ! ,/ate1 or a unit (    
local gov]nm5t )9 ! ,/ate n less ?an #cj
 days aft] ! date on :i* ! li/ creat$ "u
 clause 7i71 z updat$ "u clause 7ii71 is
 made publicly available to br+ a       
*all5ge reg>d+ :e!r an area on t f9al   
li/ is an uns]v$ area2  7iv7 provide a  
writt5 notice reg>d+ h[ ea* *all5ge     
br\ght "u clause 7iii7 0 decid$1 includ+
 ! reasons = t decision2  7v7 update !  
li/ creat$ "u clause 7i7 to reflect !   
results ( *all5ges br\ght "u clause     
7iii72  7vi7 n lat] ?an #aj ye>s aft] ! 
date ( enactm5t ( ?is section1 return   
any unus$ portion ( ^? funds to !       
,commission2 &  7vii7 n lat] ?an #b ye>s
 aft] ! date on :i* ! funds are         
di/ribut$ to ! ,/ate1 & bi5nially       
!reaft]1 submit to ! ,commission a      
report-- 7,i7 reg>d+ h[ ! ,/ate sp5t ^? 
funds dur+ ! p]iod cov]$ by ! report1   

:i* %all include a description ( ea*    
aw>d made ) ^? funds2 &  7,,ii7 t       
conta9s a c]tification t ! ,/ate has    
compli$ ) ! requirem5ts ( ?is section   
dur+ ! p]iod cov]$ by ! report4  7f7    
,project requirem5ts ,any project fund$ 
?r\gh ! program e/abli%$ "u subsection  
7b7 %all-- 7#a7 adh]e to ! same         
quality-(-s]vice /&>ds e/abli%$ by !    
,commission ) respect to ! ,rural       
,digital ,opportunity ,fund set =? 9    
subp>t ,j ( "p #ed ( title #dg1 ,code ( 
,f$]al ,regulations 7or any successor   
regulations72 &  7#b7 (f] a l[-co/      
broadb& s]vice option = l[-income       
subscrib]s ) eligibility = ! s]vice     
option det]m9$ by ! applicable broadb&  
fund+ p>tn]4  7g7 ,promot+ broadb&      
deploym5t ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date
 on :i* a ,/ate receives fund+ "u ?is   
section1 ! ,/ate %all publi% on a       
publicly available website ( ! ,/ate a  
report t analyzes ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,!     
process by :i* ! ,/ate1 or any local    
au?ority )9 ! ,/ate1 acts on a new      

reque/ to access poles1 ducts1 conduits1
 or rights-(-way1 :i* %all include an   
analysis (-- 7,a7 ! spe$ ) :i* ! ,/ate  
or local au?ority1 z applicable1        
responds to su* a reque/2 &  7,b7 !     
impact t grant+ su* a reque/ n lat] ?an 
#cj days aft] ! date on :i* ! reque/ is 
submitt$ w\ld h on ! spe$ at :i* broadb&
 s]vice is deploy$ 9 ! ,/ate4  7#b7 ,!  
process by :i* ! ,/ate1 or any local    
au?ority )9 ! ,/ate1 acts on a          
nonem]g5cy reque/ = au?orization to     
place1 con/ruct1 or modify facilities ) 
respect to broadb& s]vice t are support$
 ?r\gh access to poles1 ducts1 conduits1
 or rights-(-way1 :i* %all include an   
analysis (-- 7,a7 ! spe$ ) :i* ! ,/ate  
or local au?ority1 z applicable1        
responds to su* a reque/2 &  7,b7 !     
impact t grant+ su* a reque/ n lat] ?an 
#cj days aft] ! date on :i* ! reque/ is 
submitt$ w\ld h on ! spe$ at :i* broadb&
 s]vice is deploy$ 9 ! ,/ate4  7#c7 ,!  
impact on ! deploym5t ( broadb& s]vice  
)9 ! ,/ate ( n requir+ a p]mit or o!r   

au?orization = em]g5cy "w p]=m$ 9 !     
rights-(-way if a broadb& facility      
support$ ?r\gh access to poles1 ducts1  
conduits1 or rights-(-way notifies !    
,/ate1 or ! applicable local au?ority )9
 ! ,/ate1 reg>d+ ! em]g5cy & ! associat$
 "w4  7#d7 ,! impact on ! deploym5t (   
broadb& s]vice )9 ! ,/ate ( requir+ !   
,/ate1 or any in/rum5tality ( ! ,/ate1  
:5ev] ! ,/ate or in/rum5tality int5ds to
 modify or alt] a pole1 duct1 conduit1  
or "r-(-way1 or conduct road "w 9 :i*   
!re w be op5 tr5*es1 to provide prior   
writt5 notification ( t action to any   
broadb& s]vice provid]1 or o!r entity1 t
 has obta9$ an atta*m5t to a pole1 duct1
 or conduit1 or "r-(-way t may be       
affect$1 s t ! applicable entity may h a
 reasonable opportunity to add to or    
modify its exi/+ atta*m5t or facilities4
  7h7 ,guidance ,! ,commission may      
provide guidance to ,/ates ) respect to 
s]vice obligations1 proc$ures1 report+  
requirem5ts1 & o!r requirem5ts 9 c>ry+  
out programs e/abli%$ "u ?is section4   

7i7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is     
section may be con/ru$ to p]mit !       
,commission to use any data submitt$ by 
a provid] ( broadb& s]vice "u ?is       
section to issue or e/abli% additional  
regulatory requirem5ts ) respect to t   
provid]4  2 &  7#b7 9 section #hjb7;c7  
7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #fdb7;c77-- 7,a7 9       
p>agraph 7#a77;,a7-- 7i7 9 clause 7i71  
by /rik+ & at ! end2  7ii7 9 clause     
7ii71 by add+ & aft] ! semicolon at !   
end2 &  7iii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3
  7iii7 ! areas ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 :i* 
options describ$ 9 section #ad7;f77#b7  
are available2  2  7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#e71
 by /rik+ & at ! end2  7,c7 9 p>agraph  
7#f7-- 7i7 9 ! matt] prec$+ subp>agraph 
7,a71 by ins]t+ 1 includ+ on a publicly 
available website aft] make public2     
7ii7 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 by /rik+ & at !
 end2 &  7iii7 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 by   
/rik+ ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ 2 &2 &  
7,d7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#g7   
beg9n+ n lat] ?an #ah mon?s aft] ! date 
( enactm5t ( ! ,elim9ate ! ,digital     

,divide ,act ( #bjbj1 ensure t !        
publicly available website describ$ 9   
p>agraph 7#f7-- 7,a7 all[s a consum] to 
det]m9e1 bas$ on f9ancial in=mation     
ent]$ by ! consum]1 :e!r ! consum] is   
eligible-- 7i7 to receive a ,f$]al or   
,/ate subsidy ) respect to broadb&      
int]net access s]vice2 or  7ii7 to      
qualify = a l[-income plan ) respect to 
broadb& int]net access s]vice2 &  7,b7 )
 respect to a consum] :o is eligible "u 
clause 7i7 or 7ii7 ( subp>agraph 7,a71  
conta9s in=mation reg>d+ h[ to apply = !
 applicable b5efit4  4  7b7 ,direct     
appropriation ,!re is appropriat$ to !  
,f$]al ,communications ,commission1 out 
( any money 9 ! ,treasury n o!rwise     
appropriat$1 #aj1jjj1jjj1jjj = fiscal   
ye> #bjbj to c>ry out section #ad ( !   
,communications ,act ( #aicd1 z add$ by 
subsection 7a77#a71 :i* %all rema9      
available ?r\gh fiscal ye> #bjbi4