,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhaj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ad1 #bjbc,mr4 ,heinrich 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,hoeven1 ,mr4 ,lujn1 and ,mr4 ,mullin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,communications ,act of #aicd to improve access by ,indian ,tribes to support from universal service programs of the ,federal ,communications ,commission1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,tribal ,connect ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,tribal essential community-serving institutions and universal service 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 7m77#b77;,c71 before is a library or library consortium2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7m7 ,tribal essential community-,serving institutions and universal service 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 ,regulations 7or any successor regulation72 7,b7 the term ,e-rate program means the universal service support mechanism 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 regulations71 as authorized under subsection 7h77#b77;,a72 7,c7 the term essential community-serving institution means a facility exclusively owned by an ,indian ,tribe1 including-- 7i7 a ,tribal government building1 chapter house1 longhouse1 community center1 senior center1 or after-school facility2 or 7ii7 any other public building similar to a building described in clause 7i72 7,d7 the term ,high-,cost ,program means the program under which universal service support is awarded in high-cost areas in accordance with subpart ,d of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulations71 as authorized under subsection 7e72 and 7,e7 the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#b7 ,tribal essential community-serving institution pilot program 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,tribal ,connect ,act of #bjbc1 the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services and any other agency with relevant responsibilities1 shall initiate1 as part of the universal service support programs carried out under this section1 either as part of the ,high-,cost ,program or as a standalone universal service pilot program1 a pilot program to be known as the ,tribal ,essential ,community-,serving ,institution ,program-- 7i7 under which the ,commission shall-- 7,i7 provide an opportunity for ,indian ,tribes to request broadband internet access service at essential community-serving institutions located on ,tribal land2 and 7,,ii7 authorize support for the development of infrastructure to provide the services requested under subclause 7,i7 in a manner similar to the deployment supported under the ,high-,cost ,program2 and 7ii7 which shall remain in effect through the end of fiscal year #bjbg4 7,b7 ,eligibility ,universal service support obtained under this paragraph shall only be available if the applicable essential community-serving institution intends to deliver publicly available broadband internet access service and telecommunications services to students1 teachers1 librarians1 and members of the community4 7,c7 ,eligibility for support after the pilot program ,an essential community-serving institution that receives universal service support under this paragraph shall1 after the conclusion of the pilot program described in subparagraph 7,a71 be eligible for universal service support through existing 7as of the date on which that pilot program concludes7 and future universal service fund programs4 7,d7 ,use of contributions ,of amounts collected under subsection 7d71 not more than #cjj1jjj1jjj shall be made available to carry out the pilot program described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#c7 ,training and technical assistance for ,indian ,tribes and essential community-serving institutions 7,a7 ,technical assistance2 annual reports 7i7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall-- 7,i7 direct the administrator of the universal service support programs under this section to-- 7aa7 provide technical assistance to ensure that ,indian ,tribes can participate fully and effectively in the universal service programs1 including the ,e-rate program1 including by conducting-- 7,,aa7 outreach efforts targeted to ,tribal schools and libraries1 essential community-serving institutions1 and ,indian ,tribes that do not have schools and libraries to promote awareness of the ,e-rate program and the pilot program described in paragraph 7#b77;,a72 and 7,,bb7 specific training programs for ,tribal schools and libraries1 essential community-serving institutions1 and ,indian ,tribes2 and 7bb7 submit to the ,commission an annual report regarding the provision of the technical assistance required under item 7aa7 during the year covered by the report2 and 7,,ii7 submit each annual report received under subclause 7,i77bb7 to-- 7aa7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7bb7 the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs of the ,senate2 7cc7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7dd7 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives4 7ii7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #be1jjj1jjj to provide the technical assistance required under clause 7i77,i77aa7 for fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbg4 7,b7 ,review of annual reports ,the ,commission shall-- 7i7 review each annual report received under subparagraph 7,a77i77,i77bb7 to determine whether additional steps are necessary to ensure that ,indian ,tribes can participate fully and effectively in the universal service programs1 including the ,e-rate program1 so that all students who are members of ,indian ,tribes can have access to robust1 high-speed broadband internet access service connections2 and 7ii7 in conducting a review required under clause 7i71 consider the resources available to ,tribal members through the entity responsible for administering the universal service programs established under this section4 7,c7 ,grants 7i7 ,in general ,the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services shall make direct grants to essential community-serving institutions1 including ,tribal libraries and schools1 and ,indian ,tribes for technical assistance initiatives regarding the application process for the ,e-rate program and the pilot program established under paragraph 7#b77;,a74 7ii7 ,coordination ,the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services shall coordinate with the ,commission and the entity responsible for administering the universal service programs established under this section to-- 7,i7 promote public awareness of the grants described in clause 7i72 and 7,,ii7 adjudicate application decisions relating to the grants described in clause 7i74 7iii7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #be1jjj1jjj to make the grants described in clause 7i74 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 universal service support by defining the term ,tribal on the application for any such support2 7,b7 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 7,c7 in coordination with the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services1 identify1 in the ,united ,states1 all-- 7i7 ,tribal libraries2 7ii7 developing ,tribal libraries2 and 7iii7 ,indian ,tribes without adequate library services2 and 7,d7 not later than #b years after the date of enactment of the ,tribal ,connect ,act of #bjbc1 submit to ,congress and make public a report on the goals and measures developed under subparagraph 7,b7 and the list of libraries and ,indian ,tribes identified under subparagraph 7,c74 4