,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dgfg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #d1 #bjbb,mr4 ,wicker 7for himself and ,mr4 ,lujn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to close the digital divide1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,proper ,leadership to ,align ,networks for ,broadband ,act or the ,,plan for ,broadband ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,covered agencies ,the term covered agencies means-- 7,a7 the ,federal ,communications ,commission2 7,b7 the ,department of ,agriculture2 7,c7 the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration2 7,d7 the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services2 7,e7 the ,appalachian ,regional ,commission2 7,f7 the ,delta ,regional ,authority2 7,g7 the ,economic ,development ,administration2 7,h7 the ,department of ,education2 7,i7 the ,department of the ,treasury2 7,j7 the ,department of ,transportation2 7,k7 the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services2 7,l7 the ,northern ,border ,regional ,commission2 7,m7 the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development2 and 7,n7 the ,department of the ,interior4 7#c7 ,federal broadband program ,the term ,federal broadband program means any program administered by a covered agency that is directly or indirectly intended to increase the deployment of1 access to1 the affordability of1 or the adoption of broadband internet access service4 7#d7 ,implementation plan ,the term ,implementation ,plan means the implementation plan developed under section #d7;a74 7#e7 ,strategy ,the term ,strategy means the ,national ,strategy to ,close the ,digital ,divide developed under section #c7;a74 #c4 ,strategy to ,improve the ,coordination and ,management of ,federal ,broadband ,programs 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,president1 in consultation with the heads of the covered agencies1 shall develop and submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a ,national ,strategy to ,close the ,digital ,divide to-- 7#a7 support better management of ,federal broadband programs to deliver on the goal of providing high speed1 affordable broadband internet access service to all individuals in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 synchronize interagency coordination among covered agencies for ,federal broadband programs2 7#c7 synchronize interagency coordination regarding the process for approving the grant of an easement1 right of way1 or lease to1 in1 over1 or on a building or any other property owned by the ,federal ,government for the right to install1 construct1 modify1 or maintain infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service2 and 7#d7 reduce barriers1 lower costs1 and ease administrative burdens for ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments to participate in ,federal broadband programs4 7b7 ,national ,strategy ,to ,close the ,digital ,divide ,the ,strategy shall-- 7#a7 list all-- 7,a7 ,federal broadband programs2 and 7,b7 programs that exist at the ,state and local levels that are directly or indirectly intended to increase the deployment of1 access to1 the affordability of1 or the adoption of broadband internet access service2 7#b7 describe current1 as of the date on which the ,strategy is submitted1 ,federal efforts to coordinate ,federal broadband programs2 7#c7 identify gaps and limitations1 including laws1 that hinder1 or may hinder1 coordination across ,federal broadband programs2 7#d7 establish clear roles and responsibilities for the heads of the covered agencies1 as well as clear goals1 objectives1 and performance measures1 for-- 7,a7 the management of all ,federal broadband programs2 and 7,b7 interagency coordination efforts with respect to ,federal broadband programs2 7#e7 address the cost of the ,strategy1 the sources and types of resources and investments needed to carry out the ,strategy1 and where those resources and investments should be targeted based on balancing risk reductions with costs2 7#f7 address factors that increase the costs and administrative burdens for ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments with respect to participation in ,federal broadband programs2 7#g7 recommend incentives1 legislative solutions1 and administrative actions to help ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments more efficiently-- 7,a7 distribute1 and effectively administer1 funding received from ,federal broadband programs2 and 7,b7 resolve conflicts with respect to the funding described in subparagraph 7,a72 7#h7 recommend incentives1 legislative solutions1 and administrative actions to-- 7,a7 improve the coordination and management of ,federal broadband programs2 and 7,b7 eliminate duplication with respect to ,federal broadband programs2 7#i7 describe current1 as of the date on which the ,strategy is submitted1 efforts by covered agencies to streamline the process for granting access to an easement1 right of way1 or lease to1 in1 over1 or on a building or any other property owned by the ,federal ,government for the right to install1 construct1 modify1 or maintain infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service2 7#aj7 identify gaps and limitations with respect to allowing regional1 interstate1 or cross-border economic development organizations to participate in ,federal broadband programs2 and 7#aa7 address specific issues relating to closing the digital divide on ,tribal lands4 7c7 ,public ,consultation ,in developing the ,strategy1 the ,president shall consult with-- 7#a7 groups that represent consumers or the interests of the public1 including economically or socially disadvantaged individuals2 7#b7 subject matter experts2 7#c7 providers of broadband internet access service2 7#d7 ,tribal entities2 and 7#e7 ,state and local agencies and entities with respect to broadband internet access service4 #d4 ,strategy ,implementation ,plan 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date on which the ,president submits the ,strategy to the appropriate committees of ,congress under section #c7;a71 the ,president1 in coordination with the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,communications and ,information1 shall develop and submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress an implementation plan for the ,strategy4 7b7 ,implementation plan ,the ,implementation ,plan shall1 at a minimum-- 7#a7 provide a plan for implementing the roles1 responsibilities1 goals1 objectives1 and performance measures for the management of ,federal broadband programs and interagency coordination efforts identified in the ,strategy2 7#b7 provide a plan for holding the covered agencies accountable for the roles1 responsibilities1 goals1 objectives1 and performance measures identified in the ,strategy2 7#c7 describe the roles and responsibilities of the covered agencies1 and the interagency mechanisms1 to coordinate the implementation of the ,strategy2 7#d7 provide a plan for regular meetings among the heads of the covered agencies to coordinate the implementation of the ,strategy and improve coordination among ,federal broadband programs and for permitting processes for infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service2 7#e7 provide a plan for regular engagement with interested members of the public to evaluate ,federal broadband programs1 permitting processes for infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service1 and the progress for the implementation of the ,strategy2 7#f7 with respect to the awarding of ,federal funds or subsidies to support the deployment of broadband internet access service1 provide a plan for the adoption of-- 7,a7 common data sets regarding those awards1 including a requirement that covered agencies use the maps created under title ,,viii of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #fda et seq472 and 7,b7 applications regarding those awards1 as described in section #ijc7;e7 of the ,,access ,,broadband ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #acjg7;e772 7#g7 provide a plan to monitor and reduce waste1 fraud1 and abuse in ,federal broadband programs1 including wasteful spending resulting from fragmented1 overlapping1 and unnecessarily duplicative programs2 7#h7 require consistent obligation and expenditure reporting by covered agencies for ,federal broadband programs1 which shall be consistent with section #ijc7;c77#b7 of the ,,access ,,broadband ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #acjg7;c77#b772 7#i7 provide a plan to increase awareness of1 and participation and enrollment in1 ,federal broadband programs relating to the affordability and adoption of broadband internet access service2 and 7#aj7 describe the administrative and legislative action that is necessary to carry out the ,strategy4 7c7 ,public comment ,not later than #cj days after the date on which the ,president submits the ,strategy to the appropriate committees of ,congress under section #c7;a71 the ,president shall seek public comment regarding the development and implementation of the ,implementation ,plan4 #e4 ,briefings and ,implementation 7a7 ,briefing ,not later than #ba days after the date on which the ,president submits the ,implementation ,plan to the appropriate committees of ,congress under section #d7;a71 the ,president1 and appropriate representatives from the covered agencies involved in the formulation of the ,strategy1 shall provide a briefing on the implementation of the ,strategy to the appropriate committees of ,congress4 7b7 ,implementation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,president and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,communications and ,information shall-- 7,a7 implement the ,strategy in accordance with the terms of the ,implementation ,plan2 and 7,b7 not later than #ij days after the date on which the ,president begins to implement the ,strategy1 and not less frequently than once every #ij days thereafter until the date on which the ,implementation ,plan is fully implemented1 brief the appropriate committees of ,congress on the progress in implementing the ,implementation ,plan4 7#b7 ,rule of ,construction ,nothing in this subsection may be construed to affect the authority or jurisdiction of the ,federal ,communications ,commission or confer upon the ,president or any executive agency the power to direct the actions of the ,federal ,communications ,commission1 either directly or indirectly4 #f4 ,government ,accountability ,office ,studies and ,reports ,not later than #a year after the date on which the ,president submits the ,implementation ,plan to the appropriate committees of ,congress under section #d7;a71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall commence a study-- 7#a7 that shall-- 7,a7 examine the efficacy of the ,strategy and the ,implementation ,plan in closing the digital divide2 and 7,b7 make recommendations regarding how to improve the ,strategy and the ,implementation ,plan2 and 7#b7 the results of which the ,comptroller ,general shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress4