Map Improvement Act of 2019

II 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 1485 To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband internet access coverage data, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 15, 2019 Mr. MANCHIN (for himself and Mr. GARDNER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband internet access coverage data, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Map Improvement Act 4 of 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 6 In this Act: 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •S 1485 IS (1) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administra- 1 tion’’ means the National Telecommunications and 2 Information Administration. 3 (2) BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE.— 4 The term ‘‘broadband internet access service’’— 5 (A) means mass-market retail service by 6 wire or radio that provides the capability to 7 transmit data to and receive data from all or 8 substantially all internet endpoints, including 9 any capabilities that are incidental to and en- 10 able the operation of the communications serv- 11 ice, but excluding dial-up internet access serv- 12 ice; 13 (B) includes any service that the Commis- 14 sion finds to be providing a functional equiva- 15 lent of the service described in subparagraph 16 (A) or that is used to evade the protections set 17 forth in part 8 of title 47, Code of Federal Reg- 18 ulations, or any successor thereto; and 19 (C) does not include dial-up internet access 20 service. 21 (3) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 22 means the Federal Communications Commission. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •S 1485 IS (4) END USER.—The term ‘‘end user’’ means 1 any individual or entity that uses a broadband inter- 2 net access service. 3 (5) FIXED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS 4 SERVICE.—The term ‘‘fixed broadband internet ac- 5 cess service’’ means— 6 (A) a broadband internet access service 7 that serves end users primarily at fixed 8 endpoints using stationary equipment; and 9 (B) includes fixed wireless services, includ- 10 ing fixed unlicensed wireless services, and fixed 11 satellite services. 12 (6) GIS.—The term ‘‘GIS’’ means geographic 13 information systems. 14 (7) MOBILE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS 15 SERVICE.—The term ‘‘mobile broadband internet ac- 16 cess service’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘com- 17 mercial mobile service’’ in section 332(d)(1) of the 18 Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d)(1)). 19 SEC. 3. COLLECTION AND MAPPING OF FIXED AND MOBILE 20 BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS COVERAGE. 21 (a) STANDARDIZED METHODOLOGY RULE.— 22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 23 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, 24 in coordination with the National Telecommuni- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •S 1485 IS cations and Information Administration, shall pro- 1 mulgate a final rule to establish a standardized 2 methodology for collecting and mapping accurate 3 fixed and mobile broadband internet access service 4 coverage data in the United States, which shall— 5 (A) ensure that coverage data for fixed 6 and mobile broadband internet access services 7 is collected in a standardized, consistent, and 8 robust manner; 9 (B) improve the validity and reliability of 10 coverage data; 11 (C) increase the efficiency of coverage data 12 collection; 13 (D) contain standard definitions for dif- 14 ferent speed tiers, such as the 2G, 3G, 4G, and 15 4G LTE tiers and the equivalent for fixed 16 broadband internet access service; 17 (E) ensure that the collection and valida- 18 tion process occurs on a regular basis; and 19 (F) establish a standardized ongoing vali- 20 dation process and public feedback mechanism 21 that will allow for consumers, State and local 22 officials, and carriers to submit data to the 23 Commission to verify coverage data from car- 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 5 •S 1485 IS riers and challenge any areas they feel are mis- 1 represented. 2 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating the 3 rule required under paragraph (1), the Commission 4 shall consider— 5 (A) coordinating with the United States 6 Postal Service, other Federal delivery fleet vehi- 7 cles, and the Bureau of the Census for assist- 8 ance with data collection and the feasibility of 9 using more granular address level data; and 10 (B) creating 1 centralized national map 11 with multiple layers, including a layer each for 12 fixed broadband internet access service and mo- 13 bile broadband internet access service, which 14 shall be used in determining eligibility for all 15 Federal broadband internet access grant, loan, 16 and subsidy programs. 17 (3) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—The Com- 18 mission shall establish an Office of Broadband Data 19 Collection and Mapping within the Commission to 20 serve as the central point of collection, aggregation, 21 and validation of data collected under the standard- 22 ized methodology established under this subsection. 23 (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 6 •S 1485 IS (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administration shall es- 1 tablish a technical assistance program under which 2 the Administration shall provide grants to State and 3 local entities, such as regional planning organiza- 4 tions, to— 5 (A) assist with mapping and the develop- 6 ment of a GIS-based map of existing service- 7 ability for fixed and mobile broadband internet 8 access service; and 9 (B) assess current broadband internet ac- 10 cess service adoption rates and advertised 11 broadband internet access service pricing in the 12 community. 13 (2) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds received under this 14 subsection— 15 (A) shall be used to participate in the 16 standardized ongoing validation process and 17 public feedback mechanism described in sub- 18 section (a)(1)(F); and 19 (B) may be used to purchase GIS software 20 and for technical assistance with that software. 21 (3) OTHER USES FOR GIS SOFTWARE.—A re- 22 gional planning organization may use GIS software 23 acquired using funds received under this subsection 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 7 •S 1485 IS for other purposes in addition to broadband internet 1 access service mapping. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:24 May 25, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S1485.IS S1485 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS