[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1650 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1650
To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current
and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with
services offered by edge providers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 8, 2021
Mr. Mullin (for himself, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Hern, Mr. Baird,
Mr. LaTurner, Mr. Meuser, Mrs. Bice of Oklahoma, and Mr. Cole)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current
and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with
services offered by edge providers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(2) Edge provider.--The term ``edge provider''--
(A) means an entity that provides (through, but as
a separate product from, the broadband internet service
of a user) a service or content--
(i) for which the entity requires the user
to subscribe or establish an account in order
to use the service;
(ii) through which the user purchases,
downloads, or accesses content, applications,
or services from the entity without a
subscription or account;
(iii) by which a program searches for and
identifies items in a database that correspond
to keywords or characters specified by the
user, used especially for finding particular
sites on the World Wide Web; or
(iv) by which the user divulges sensitive
information of the user;
(B) includes an entity that provides a service
described in subparagraph (A) through a software
program, including a mobile application; and
(C) does not include an entity that solely provides
broadband internet service.
(3) Edge provider data.--The term ``edge provider data''
means data associated with services or content offered by edge
providers.
(4) High-cost rural area.--The term ``high-cost rural
area'' means an area of the United States that--
(A) is not contained within an incorporated city or
town; and
(B) has a population of fewer than 20,000
inhabitants.
(5) Qualifying broadband service.--The term ``qualifying
broadband service'' means broadband internet service with
measurable speeds of not less than the speeds required for the
Commission to determine the service is advanced
telecommunications capability, as that term is defined in
section 706(d) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C.
1302(d)).
(6) Rural broadband network.--The term ``rural broadband
network'' means the plant, equipment, components, facilities,
hardware, and software used by a rural broadband provider to
provide qualifying broadband service in a high-cost rural area.
(7) Rural broadband provider.--The term ``rural broadband
provider'' means an entity that--
(A) provides qualifying broadband service in a
high-cost rural area using any technology, including a
fixed or mobile wireless or wireline network; and
(B) provides qualifying broadband service to fewer
than 250,000 customers.
SEC. 2. RURAL BROADBAND NETWORK ADVANCEMENT STUDY.
(a) Proceeding by FCC.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Initiation.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall
initiate a proceeding to analyze the demands that have
been or will be placed on rural broadband networks
during the covered period that are associated with edge
provider data transmitted over such networks, including
internet browsing data and data associated with video
streaming services.
(B) Conclusion.--Not later than 1 year after
initiating the proceeding under subparagraph (A), the
Commission shall conclude the proceeding.
(2) Matters for analysis.--The analysis conducted under
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) Estimation of edge provider data.--An
estimation of the quantity of edge provider data that
has been or will be transmitted over rural broadband
networks during the covered period.
(B) Calculation of costs.--A calculation of the
costs to rural broadband providers during the covered
period associated with transmission by such providers
of edge provider data over the rural broadband network
that are not already recovered through--
(i) user rates that are reasonably
comparable to user rates in urban areas; or
(ii) Federal programs aimed at promoting
rural broadband deployment or sustaining rural
broadband networks, including Federal universal
service support programs established under
section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934
(47 U.S.C. 254).
(3) Costs described.--The categories of costs to be
calculated under paragraph (2)(B) shall include costs
associated with--
(A) the initial deployment of rural broadband
networks;
(B) the operation and maintenance of rural
broadband networks; and
(C) the delivery of services to users over rural
broadband networks, including the transmission of data
between high-cost rural areas and urban or suburban
interconnection points.
(4) Provision of information.--
(A) Use of data.--To analyze the demands described
under paragraph (1), the Commission shall--
(i) use any existing commercial or
government data or estimate concerning the
covered time period; and
(ii) collect data concerning the covered
time period from edge providers or rural
broadband providers.
(B) Requirement to submit information.--In any case
in which the Commission determines that it is necessary
to collect data under subparagraph (A)(ii) from an edge
provider or a rural broadband provider, such edge
provider or rural broadband provider shall provide any
information necessary for the Commission to complete
the proceeding under paragraph (1).
(5) Covered period defined.--In this subsection, the term
``covered period'' means the 6-year period that--
(A) begins on the date that is 3 years before the
date on which the proceeding under paragraph (1) is
initiated; and
(B) ends on the date that is 3 years after the date
on which the proceeding is initiated.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 120 days after concluding
the proceeding under subsection (a)(1), the Commission shall publish on
its website and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce
of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the
proceeding.
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