,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddch ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bi1 #bjbf,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 and ,ms4 ,duckworth7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,federal ,communications ,commission to establish a program to make grants available to ,states to inform individuals of potential eligibility for the ,lifeline program of the ,commission1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,promoting ,access to ,broadband ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,lifeline enrollment outreach grants 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#b7 ,covered individual ,the term covered individual means an individual who-- 7,a7 is an eligible-but-not-enrolled individual2 or 7,b7 has the potential to be a qualifying low-income consumer under #ed4dji of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation1 due to the eligibility of the individual1 a dependent of the individual1 or the household of the individual to receive benefits from or participate in1 as applicable1 a program described in such section #ed4dji4 7#c7 ,eligible-but-not-enrolled individual ,the term eligible-but-not-enrolled individual means an individual who is a qualifying low-income consumer under section #ed4dji of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation1 but is not enrolled in the ,lifeline program4 7#d7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term ,indian tribe in section #d of the ,native ,american ,housing ,assistance and ,self-,determination ,act of #aiif 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dajc74 7#e7 ,lifeline program ,the term ,lifeline program means the program set forth in subpart ,e of part #ed of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation4 7#f7 ,reach ,the term reach means1 with respect to an individual1 to inform the individual of potential eligibility for the ,lifeline program and to provide the individual with information about the ,lifeline program1 as described in subsection 7e74 7#g7 ,state ,the term ,state means each ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 each commonwealth1 territory1 or possession of the ,united ,states1 and each ,indian ,tribe4 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,commission shall establish a competitive program to make grants available to ,states to inform covered individuals of potential eligibility for the ,lifeline program4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission may only award a grant under this section to a ,state that submits an application at such time1 in such form1 and with such information and assurances as the ,commission may require4 7#b7 ,matters required to be included ,an application submitted by a ,state under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 the number of covered individuals in the ,state2 7,b7 a plan for the activities that the ,state will conduct using grant funds1 including a list of each agency within the ,state that will assist in carrying out those activities2 and 7,c7 an estimate of the percentage of eligible-but-not-enrolled individuals in the ,state who will be reached by those activities4 7d7 ,selection 7#a7 ,minimum number of ,states ,the ,commission shall award grants under this section to not fewer than #be percent of the ,states that submit an application under subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,factors for consideration ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,commission shall give favorable consideration to-- 7,a7 ,states that have higher numbers of covered individuals2 and 7,b7 ,states proposing1 in the plans submitted under subsection 7c77#b77;,b71 to conduct activities that have the potential to reach higher percentages of eligible-but-not-enrolled individuals in those ,states1 as determined by the ,commission1 taking into consideration the estimates submitted under subsection 7c77#b77;,c74 7#c7 ,geographic diversity ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,commission shall1 to the maximum extent practicable1 select ,states from different geographic regions of the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state that receives a grant under this section shall use grant funds1 in accordance with the plan included in the application of the ,state under subsection 7c77#b77;,b71 to-- 7,a7 inform covered individuals and organizations or agencies that serve covered individuals1 as the case may be under the terms of the grant awarded to the ,state1 of potential eligibility for the ,lifeline program2 7,b7 provide covered individuals with information about the ,lifeline program1 including-- 7i7 how to apply for the ,lifeline program2 and 7ii7 a description of the prohibition on more than #a subscriber in each household receiving a service provided under the ,lifeline program2 and 7,c7 partner with nonprofit and community-based organizations that have a proven track record of working with covered individuals in implementing digital inclusion initiatives to provide covered individuals with-- 7i7 assistance applying for the ,lifeline program2 and 7ii7 information about product and technology choices4 7#b7 ,multiple ,state agencies ,a ,state that receives a grant under this section may provide grant funds to #a or more agencies located within the ,state1 as identified under subsection 7c77#b77;,b71 to carry out the activities under the grant4 7f7 ,outreach to ,states regarding grant program ,before accepting applications for the grant program established under this section1 the ,commission shall conduct outreach to ,states to ensure that ,states are aware of the grant program and how to apply for a grant under the grant program4 7g7 ,regulations required ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall promulgate regulations to implement this section4 7h7 ,enforcement 7#a7 ,in general ,a violation of this section or a regulation promulgated under this section shall be treated as a violation of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq47 or a regulation promulgated under that ,act4 7#b7 ,manner of enforcement ,the ,commission shall enforce this section and the regulations promulgated under this section 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 section4 7i7 ,exemptions 7#a7 ,certain rulemaking requirements ,section #eec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall not apply to a regulation promulgated under this section or a rulemaking proceeding to promulgate such a regulation4 7#b7 ,paperwork ,reduction ,act requirements ,a collection of information conducted or sponsored under the regulations required under this section shall not constitute a collection of information for the purposes of subchapter ,i of chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act74 7j7 ,report to ,congress 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after establishing the grant program under this section1 the ,commission shall submit to ,congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program4 7#b7 ,contents ,the report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 the number of individuals notified of ,lifeline program eligibility by ,states receiving grants under this section2 7,b7 the number of new applicants to the ,lifeline program from ,states receiving grants under this section1 including the number of those applicants who enrolled in the ,lifeline program2 and 7,c7 the cost-effectiveness of the grant program established under this section4 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for the first #e full fiscal years beginning after the establishment of the grant program under this section4 #c4 ,grants to ,states to strengthen ,national ,lifeline ,eligibility ,verifier 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a ,state that1 not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 submits to the ,commission an application for a grant under this section containing such information as the ,commission may require4 7#c7 ,state ,the term ,state means each ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 each commonwealth1 territory1 or possession of the ,united ,states1 and each federally recognized ,indian ,tribe4 7b7 ,establishment ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall establish a program to provide a grant1 from amounts appropriated under subsection 7e71 to each eligible entity for the purpose described in subsection 7c74 7c7 ,purpose ,the ,commission shall make a grant to each eligible entity for the purpose of establishing1 renewing1 reestablishing1 or maintaining or amending a connection between the databases of the eligible entity that contain information concerning the receipt by a household1 or a member of a household1 of benefits under a program administered by the eligible entity 7including any benefit provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq477 and the ,national ,lifeline ,eligibility ,verifier so that the receipt by a household1 or a member of a household1 of benefits under the benefits program-- 7#a7 is reflected in the ,national ,lifeline ,eligibility ,verifier2 and 7#b7 can be used to verify eligibility for the ,lifeline program set forth in subpart ,e1 part #ed1 of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation4 7d7 ,disbursement of grant funds ,not later than #abj days after the date on which the ,commission establishes the program under subsection 7b71 funds provided under each grant made under that subsection shall be disbursed to the eligible entity receiving the grant4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriation ,there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section4