,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ccba ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ae1 #bjbc,mr4 ,mullin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kelly1 and ,mr4 ,crapo7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,federal ,communications ,commission to ensure equitable and nondiscriminatory contributions to the mechanisms that preserve and advance universal service1 to reduce the financial burden on consumers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,lowering ,broadband ,costs for ,consumers ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,lowering broadband costs for consumers 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,broadband internet access service ,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 regulation4 7#b7 ,broadband provider ,the term broadband provider means a provider of broadband internet access service4 7#c7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#d7 ,edge provider ,the term edge provider means a provider of online content or services1 including-- 7,a7 a digital advertising service2 7,b7 a search engine2 7,c7 a social media platform2 7,d7 a streaming service2 7,e7 an app store2 7,f7 a cloud computing service2 7,g7 an over-the-top messaging service or any other service that enables texting2 7,h7 a videoconferencing service2 7,i7 a video gaming service2 and 7,j7 an e-commerce platform4 7#e7 ,eligible telecommunications carrier ,the term eligible telecommunications carrier means a common carrier designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section #bad7;e7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bad7;e774 7b7 ,lowering broadband costs for consumers ,section #bed7;d7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bed7;d77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,every and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,every 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,rulemaking 7,a7 ,initial rulemaking ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of the ,lowering ,broadband ,costs for ,consumers ,act of #bjbc1 the ,commission shall complete a rulemaking to reform the ,universal ,service ,fund by expanding the contribution base so that broadband providers and edge providers1 except as provided in paragraph 7#c7 of this subsection1 contribute on an equitable and nondiscriminatory basis to the specific1 predictable1 and sufficient mechanisms established by the ,commission to preserve and advance universal service4 7,b7 ,revisions ,from time to time after the rulemaking described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,commission may revise the rules adopted under that subparagraph1 as necessary1 to ensure that broadband providers and edge providers continue to contribute on an equitable and nondiscriminatory basis to the specific1 predictable1 and sufficient mechanisms established by the ,commission to preserve and advance universal service4 7#c7 ,exempted edge providers and broadband providers ,the requirement to contribute described in paragraph 7#b7 shall not apply to-- 7,a7 an edge provider that-- 7i7 transmitted less than #c percent of the estimated quantity of broadband data that was transmitted in the ,united ,states during the most recent year1 as determined by the ,commission2 and 7ii7 earned less than #e1jjj1jjj1jjj in revenue in the ,united ,states during the most recent year2 or 7,b7 an edge provider or broadband provider or class of edge providers or broadband providers if the revenue of the provider is such that the level of contribution of the provider to the preservation and advancement of universal service would be de minimis4 7#d7 ,broadband provider2 edge provider defined ,in this subsection1 the terms broadband provider and edge provider have the meanings given those terms in section #b of the ,lowering ,broadband ,costs for ,consumers ,act of #bjbc4 4 7c7 ,supporting broadband providers 7#a7 ,adoption of mechanism ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall complete a rulemaking to adopt a new mechanism under the high-cost program of the ,universal ,service ,fund that will provide specific1 predictable1 and sufficient support for expenses incurred by a broadband provider that is an eligible telecommunications carrier in providing supported services to the extent that such expenses are not otherwise recovered from revenues earned from the assessment of just1 reasonable1 and affordable rates on end users in high-cost areas or from other universal service support mechanisms4 7#b7 ,limit on eligible telecommunications carriers ,the ,commission shall ensure that not more than #a eligible telecommunications carrier for any area receives support from the mechanism adopted through the rulemaking conducted under paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,enforcement by the ,federal ,communications ,commission 7#a7 ,powers of ,commission ,except as otherwise provided1 the ,commission shall enforce this ,act in the same manner1 by the same means1 and with the same jurisdiction1 powers1 and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq47 were incorporated into and made a part of this ,act4 7#b7 ,penalties1 privileges1 and immunities ,any person who violates this ,act shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq474 7e7 ,purpose2 rule of construction 7#a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to direct the ,commission to require contributions to the ,universal ,service ,fund from edge providers and broadband providers and to modify the high cost program to promote affordable and available broadband4 7#b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to provide the ,commission with-- 7,a7 any new authority over broadband providers2 or 7,b7 any authority over edge providers other than as described in paragraph 7#a74