[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2965 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2965
To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current
and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with data
transmission due to increased network usage.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 7, 2021
Mr. Braun introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current
and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with data
transmission due to increased network usage.
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) Covered period.--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 section 2(a)(1) is
initiated; and
(B) ends on the date that is 3 years after the date
on which the proceeding under section 2(a)(1) is
initiated.
(3) High-cost rural area.--The term ``high-cost rural
area'' means an area of the United States that is not contained
within an incorporated city or town with a population of more
than 20,000 inhabitants.
(4) Qualifying broadband service.--The term ``qualifying
broadband service'' means broadband service with measurable
speeds of not less than the speeds required for the service to
qualify as an advanced telecommunications capability, as that
term is defined in section 706(d) of the Telecommunications Act
of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 1302(d)).
(5) 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.
(6) 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 terrestrial 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 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 data
transmitted over those networks.
(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 and analysis of network usage.--
(i) Overall data transfers.--An estimate of
the quantity of data that has been or will be
transmitted over rural broadband networks
during the covered period.
(ii) Categories of network usage.--An
analysis of the quantity of data that has been
or will be transmitted over rural broadband
networks during the covered period broken down
by content owner, licensor, or distributor, in
order to produce an estimate of network usage
by type of content, use, and purpose.
(B) Calculation of costs.--
(i) In general.--A calculation of the costs
to rural broadband providers during the covered
period associated with transmission of data
over rural broadband networks 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).
(ii) Costs described.--The categories of
costs to be calculated under clause (i) shall
include costs associated with--
(I) the initial deployment of rural
broadband networks;
(II) the operation and maintenance
of rural broadband networks; and
(III) 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.
(3) Provision of information.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, a rural broadband provider may disclose to
the Commission--
(A) the quantity of data transmitted over rural
broadband networks of the provider, broken down by
content owner, licensor, or distributor; and
(B) any other information necessary for the
Commission to complete the proceeding under paragraph
(1).
(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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