ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cbc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #bi1 #bjbe,mr4 ,wicker 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,lujn1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,communications and ,information to develop a ,national ,strategy to ,synchronize ,federal ,broadband ,programs1 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 ,assistant ,secretary ,the term ,assistant ,secretary means the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,communications and ,information4 7#c7 ,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#d7 ,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 ,denali ,commission2 7,h7 the ,economic ,development ,administration2 7,i7 the ,department of ,education2 7,j7 the ,department of the ,treasury2 7,k7 the ,department of ,transportation2 7,l7 the ,institute of ,museum and ,library ,services2 7,m7 the ,northern ,border ,regional ,commission2 7,n7 the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development2 and 7,o7 the ,department of the ,interior4 7#e7 ,deployment ,locations ,map ,the term ,deployment ,locations ,map has the meaning given the term in section #fjaje7;a7 of the ,infrastructure ,investment and ,jobs ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #agjd7;a774 7#f7 ,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#g7 ,federal land management agency ,the term ,federal land management agency means-- 7,a7 the ,national ,park ,service2 7,b7 the ,bureau of ,land ,management2 7,c7 the ,bureau of ,reclamation2 7,d7 the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 7,e7 the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs2 and 7,f7 the ,forest ,service4 7#h7 ,implementation plan ,the term ,implementation ,plan means the implementation plan developed under section #d7;a74 7#i7 ,strategy ,the term ,strategy means the ,national ,strategy to ,synchronize ,federal ,broadband ,programs developed under section #c7;a74 #c4 ,national strategy to synchronize ,federal broadband programs 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,assistant ,secretary1 in consultation with the covered agencies1 shall develop and submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a ,national ,strategy to ,synchronize ,federal ,broadband ,programs to-- 7#a7 support better management of ,federal broadband programs to deliver on the goal of providing access to high-speed1 affordable broadband internet access service to all individuals in the ,united ,states1 while ensuring that funding for ,federal broadband programs is used in the most efficient and fiscally responsible manner2 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 any permit1 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 unnecessary barriers1 eliminate unnecessary costs1 and ease administrative burdens to participate in ,federal broadband programs4 7b7 ,requirements ,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 regulations1 and covered agency policies and practices1 that hinder1 or may hinder1 coordination across ,federal broadband programs2 7#d7 establish clear roles and responsibilities for 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 of participation in ,federal broadband programs1 including with respect to access to infrastructure necessary for deployment of broadband internet access service2 7#g7 report information on the effectiveness of each ,federal broadband program in terms of how many locations received broadband internet access service or other assistance under each ,federal broadband program2 7#h7 address the extent to which covered agency policies and practices do or do not establish a technologically neutral program2 7#i7 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 programs and avoid duplication of-- 7i7 existing infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service2 and 7ii7 funded projects with respect to broadband internet access service or such projects otherwise subject to enforceable deployment obligations2 7,b7 resolve conflicts with respect to the funding described in subparagraph 7,a72 7,c7 use the ,deployment ,locations ,map as a key resource in carrying out subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b72 and 7,d7 promote access to infrastructure or rights of way necessary for deployment of broadband internet access service1 whether privately or government owned or cooperatively organized for broadband communications2 7#aj7 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 programs and non-,federal programs with respect to broadband internet access service2 7#aa7 describe current1 as of the date on which the ,strategy is submitted1 efforts by covered agencies1 ,federal land management agencies1 and ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments to streamline the process for granting a permit or access to an easement1 right of way1 or lease to1 in1 over1 or on a building or any other property owned or controlled by a government for the right to install1 construct1 modify1 or maintain infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service2 7#ab7 identify gaps and limitations with respect to allowing regional1 interstate1 or cross-border economic development organizations to participate in ,federal broadband programs2 7#ac7 address specific issues relating to closing the gap on ,tribal lands with respect to broadband internet access service2 and 7#ad7 identify measures to prevent fraud and misuse of amounts made available to carry out ,federal broadband programs1 ensure accountability for the use of such funding1 and implement effective reporting requirements to measure the success of ,federal broadband programs4 #d4 ,implementation plan 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date on which the ,assistant ,secretary submits the ,strategy to the appropriate committees of ,congress under section #c7;a71 the ,assistant ,secretary 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 if the ,strategy identifies policy and practices that result in programmatic differences among covered agencies with respect to ,federal broadband programs1 provide a plan to streamline and create consistent policies and practices across all covered agencies for the purposes of ,federal broadband programs2 7#c7 for ,federal broadband programs that are not technologically neutral1 determine a ceiling on the amount of a subsidy or funding award to provide broadband internet access service to a single location1 to be consistently applied and adopted by all covered agencies for the funding of infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service2 7#d7 provide a plan for holding the covered agencies accountable for the roles1 responsibilities1 goals1 objectives1 and performance measures identified in the ,strategy2 7#e7 describe the roles and responsibilities of the covered agencies1 and the interagency mechanisms1 to coordinate the implementation of the ,strategy2 7#f7 provide a plan for coordination among ,federal broadband programs and for permitting processes for infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service2 7#g7 provide a plan for regular evaluation and public reporting of ,federal broadband programs against clear objectives and performance measures1 permitting processes for infrastructure with respect to broadband internet access service1 and progress in implementing the ,strategy2 7#h7 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 seq47 and the ,deployment ,locations ,map2 7,b7 applications regarding those awards1 as described in section #ijc7;e7 of the ,,access ,,broadband ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #acjg7;e772 and 7,c7 rules for prohibiting awards by covered agencies in areas identified as served by the maps created under title ,,viii of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #fda et seq47 or in areas already subject to an award or enforceable deployment obligations by a covered agency under a ,federal broadband program or a ,state1 local1 or ,tribal program with respect to broadband internet access service2 7#i7 provide a plan to monitor1 publicly report1 and reduce waste1 fraud1 and abuse in ,federal broadband programs1 including wasteful spending resulting from fragmented1 overlapping1 and duplicative programs2 7#aj7 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#b77 and the ,deployment ,locations ,map2 7#aa7 provide a plan to increase awareness of1 and participation in1 ,federal broadband programs relating to the affordability and adoption of broadband internet access service2 and 7#ab7 describe the administrative and legislative action that is necessary to carry out the ,strategy4 7c7 ,public comment ,in developing the ,implementation ,plan1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall publish a draft version of the ,implementation ,plan in the ,federal ,register for a period of notice and comment 7and reply comment7 that is not less than #fj days4 #e4 ,briefings and implementation 7a7 ,briefing ,not later than #ba days after the date on which the ,assistant ,secretary submits the ,implementation ,plan to the appropriate committees of ,congress under section #d7;a71 the ,assistant ,secretary1 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 ,assistant ,secretary 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 ,assistant ,secretary 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 ,assistant ,secretary or any executive agency the power to direct the actions of the ,federal ,communications ,commission1 either directly or indirectly4 #f4 ,government ,accountability ,office study and report ,not later than #a year after the date on which the ,assistant ,secretary 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 coordinating funding across the ,federal ,government with respect to broadband internet access service2 7,b7 make recommendations regarding how to improve the ,strategy and the ,implementation ,plan2 7,c7 examine any existing or new performance goals and measures for ,federal broadband programs2 7,d7 examine any awards made by covered agencies under ,federal broadband programs1 or under ,state1 local1 and ,tribal programs with respect to broadband internet access service-- 7i7 in areas identified as served with respect to broadband internet access service2 or 7ii7 that are duplicative of other awards under such a program2 and 7,e7 identify programmatic changes that would prevent occurrences described in subparagraph 7,d7 in the future2 and 7#b7 the results of which the ,comptroller ,general shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress4 #g4 ,broadband funding map reporting 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the head of each covered agency shall submit to the ,assistant ,secretary and the appropriate committees of ,congress a report containing a comprehensive update on the measures that each respective covered agency has taken since ,may #ae1 #bjbc1 to coordinate with the ,national ,telecommunications and ,information ,administration1 pursuant to subsection 7c77#b77;,a7 of the ,,access ,,broadband ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #acjg7;c77#b77;,a771 and the ,federal ,communications ,commission to populate the ,deployment ,locations ,map4 7b7 ,contents ,each report required under subsection 7a7 shall include-- 7#a7 a description of the extent to which the covered agency submitting the report is submitting the data necessary to populate the ,deployment ,locations ,map in a complete and timely manner2 and 7#b7 identification of any outstanding challenges associated with the requirement for the submission of data described in paragraph 7#a74 #h4 ,tracking and improving processing times for communications use applications ,section #fdji7;b77#c7 of the ,middle ,class ,tax ,relief and ,job ,creation ,act of #bjab 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #adee7;b77#c77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,e7 ,tracking and improving processing times 7i7 ,data controls ,an executive agency shall develop controls to ensure that data is sufficiently accurate and complete to track the processing time for each application described in subparagraph 7,a74 7ii7 ,requirement to analyze1 address1 and report on delay factors ,with respect to the factors that contribute to delays in processing applications described in subparagraph 7,a71 an executive agency shall-- 7,i7 analyze the factors as the delays are occurring2 7,,ii7 take actions to address the factors2 and 7,,iii7 provide an annual report on the factors to-- 7aa7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7bb7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate2 7cc7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 7dd7 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7ee7 each committee of ,congress with jurisdiction over the executive agency4 7iii7 ,method for alerting staff to at-risk applications ,an executive agency shall establish a method to alert employees of the executive agency to any application described in subparagraph 7,a7 with respect to which the executive agency is at risk of failing to meet the #bgj-;day deadline under that subparagraph4 4 #i4 ,minimum broadband project cost ,section #dajja7f77;,a7 of the ,,fast ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcgjm7#f77;,a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7iii77,,iii71 by striking or at the end2 7#b7 by redesignating clause 7iv7 as clause 7v72 and 7#c7 by inserting after clause 7iii7 the following3 7iv7 7,i7 is subject to ,,nepa2 7,,ii7 involves the construction of infrastructure for broadband2 and 7,,iii7 is likely to require a total investment of more than #e1jjj1jjj2 or 4 #aj4 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act1 or any amendment made by this ,act1 may be construed to confer authority on the ,federal ,government1 or any ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government1 to regulate broadband internet access service4