,,ii ,cal5d> ,no4 #fa #aai? ,,congress  
#a/ ,session  ,h4 ,r4 #bcii  ,,9 ,,!    
,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april 
#bi1 #bjbe,receiv$2 read twice & plac$  
on ! cal5d>  ,,an ,,act  ,to require !  
,f$]al ,communications ,commission to   
e/abli% a vett+ process = prospective   
applicants = high-co/ univ]sal s]vice   
program fund+4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is    
,act may be cit$ z ! ,rural ,broadb&    
,protection ,act ( #bjbe4  #b4 ,vett+   
process = prospective high-co/ univ]sal 
s]vice fund applicants ,section #bed ( !
 ,communications ,act ( #aicd 7#dg      
,u4,s4,c4 #bed7 is am5d$ by add+ at !   
end ! foll[+3  7m7 ,vett+ ( high-,co/   
fund recipi5ts  7#a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is 
subsection-- 7,a7 ! t]m cov]$ fund+     
means any new (f] ( high-co/ univ]sal   
s]vice program fund+1 includ+ fund+     
provid$ ?r\gh a rev]se competitive bidd+
 me*anism provid$ "u ?is section1 = !   
deploym5t ( a broadb&-capable network & 
! provision ( support$ s]vices ov] !    
network2 &  7,b7 ! t]m new cov]$ fund+  

aw>d means an aw>d ( cov]$ fund+ t is   
made bas$ on an application submitt$ to 
! ,commission on or aft] ! date on :i*  
rules are promulgat$ "u p>agraph 7#b74  
7#b7 ,commission rulemak+ ,n lat] ?an   
#ahj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is  
subsection1 ! ,commission %all initiate 
a rulemak+ proce$+ to e/abli% a vett+   
process = applicants =1 & o!r recipi5ts 
(1 a new cov]$ fund+ aw>d4  7#c7        
,cont5ts  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 promulgat+   
rules "u p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,commission   
%all provide t1 consi/5t ) pr9ciples (  
te*nology neutrality1 ! ,commission w   
only aw>d cov]$ fund+ to applicants t c 
demon/rate t !y meet ! qualifications 9 
subp>agraph 7,b74  7,b7 ,qualifications 
describ$ ,an applicant = a new cov]$    
fund+ aw>d %all include 9 ! initial     
application a proposal conta9+ suffici5t
 detail & docum5tation = ! ,commission  
to asc]ta9 t ! applicant possesses !    
te*nical1 f9ancial1 & op]ational        
capabilities1 & has a reasonable bus9ess
 plan1 to deploy ! propos$ network &    

deliv] s]vices ) ! relevant p]=mance    
*>act]i/ics & requirem5ts def9$ by !    
,commission & z pl$g$ by ! applicant4   
7,c7 ,evaluation ( proposal ,!          
,commission %all evaluate a proposal    
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b7 aga9/-- 7i7 
reasonable & well-e/abli%$ te*nical1    
f9ancial1 & op]ational /&>ds1 includ+ ! 
te*nical /&>ds adopt$ by ! ,commission 9
 ord]s ( ! ,commission relat+ to        
,e/abli%+ ! ,digital ,opportunity ,data 
,collection 7,,wc ,docket ,no4 #ai-aie7 
7or ord]s ( ! ,commission relat+ to     
mod]niz+ any successor collection7 =    
purposes ( entities t mu/ report broadb&
 availability cov]age2 &  7ii7 !        
applicant's hi/ory ( comply+ )          
requirem5ts 9 ! ,commission & o!r       
gov]nm5t broadb& deploym5t fund+        
programs4  7,d7 ,p5alties =             
pre-au?orization defaults ,9 adopt+     
rules = any new cov]$ fund+ aw>d1 !     
,commission %all set a p5alty =         
pre-au?orization defaults ( at lea/     
#i1jjj p] violation & may n limit ! base

 =feiture to an am\nt less ?an #cj p]c5t
 ( ! applicant's total support1 unless !
 ,commission demon/rates ! ne$ = l[]    
p5alties 9 a p>ticul> in/ance4  4       
,pass$ ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives ,april 
#bh1 #bjbe4,kev9 ,f4 ,mc,cumber1,cl]k4  
,april #bi1 #bjbe,receiv$2 read twice & 
plac$ on ! cal5d>