Map Improvement Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4128 To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband internet service coverage data, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 30, 2019 Mr. LUJA´N (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To improve the collection and aggregation of fixed and mobile broadband internet service 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 03:38 Aug 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4128.IH H4128 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 4128 IH (1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist- 1 ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 2 Commerce for Communications and Information. 3 (2) BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.—The 4 term ‘‘broadband internet 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; 12 (B) includes any service that the Commis- 13 sion finds to be providing a functional equiva- 14 lent of the service described in subparagraph 15 (A) or that is used to evade the protections set 16 forth in part 8 of title 47, Code of Federal Reg- 17 ulations, or any successor thereto; and 18 (C) does not include dial-up internet serv- 19 ice. 20 (3) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 21 means the Federal Communications Commission. 22 (4) END USER.—The term ‘‘end user’’ means 23 any individual or entity that uses a broadband inter- 24 net service. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:38 Aug 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4128.IH H4128 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 4128 IH (5) FIXED BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.— 1 The term ‘‘fixed broadband internet service’’ 2 means— 3 (A) a broadband internet service that 4 serves end users primarily at fixed endpoints 5 using stationary equipment; and 6 (B) includes fixed wireless services, includ- 7 ing fixed unlicensed wireless services, and fixed 8 satellite services. 9 (6) GIS.—The term ‘‘GIS’’ means geographic 10 information systems. 11 (7) MOBILE BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.— 12 The term ‘‘mobile broadband internet service’’ shall 13 have the meaning given such term by the Commis- 14 sion for purposes of this Act. 15 (8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each 16 State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 17 each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 18 United States, and each federally recognized Indian 19 Tribe. 20 SEC. 3. COLLECTION AND MAPPING OF FIXED AND MOBILE 21 BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE COVERAGE. 22 (a) STANDARDIZED METHODOLOGY RULE.— 23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 24 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:38 Aug 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4128.IH H4128 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 4128 IH in coordination with the Assistant Secretary, shall 1 promulgate a final rule to establish a standardized 2 methodology for collecting and mapping accurate 3 fixed broadband internet service and mobile 4 broadband internet service coverage data in the 5 United States, which shall— 6 (A) ensure that coverage data for fixed 7 broadband internet service and mobile 8 broadband internet service is collected in a 9 standardized, consistent, and robust manner; 10 (B) improve the validity and reliability of 11 coverage data; 12 (C) increase the efficiency of coverage data 13 collection; 14 (D) contain standard definitions for dif- 15 ferent speed tiers, such as the 2G, 3G, 4G, and 16 4G LTE tiers and the equivalent for fixed 17 broadband internet service; 18 (E) ensure that the collection and valida- 19 tion process occurs on a regular basis; and 20 (F) establish a standardized ongoing vali- 21 dation process and public feedback mechanism 22 that will allow for consumers, State and local 23 officials, and broadband internet service pro- 24 viders to submit data to the Commission to 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:38 Aug 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4128.IH H4128 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 5 •HR 4128 IH verify coverage data from broadband internet 1 service providers and challenge any aspects of 2 such data believed to be inaccurate. 3 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating the 4 rule required under paragraph (1), the Commission 5 shall consider— 6 (A) coordinating with the Postmaster Gen- 7 eral, the heads of other Federal agencies that 8 operate delivery fleet vehicles, and the Director 9 of the Bureau of the Census for assistance with 10 data collection and the feasibility of using more 11 granular address level data; and 12 (B) creating 1 centralized national map 13 with multiple layers, including a layer each for 14 fixed broadband internet service and mobile 15 broadband internet service, which may be used 16 in determining eligibility for all Federal 17 broadband internet service grant, loan, and sub- 18 sidy programs. 19 (3) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—The Com- 20 mission shall establish an Office of Broadband Data 21 Collection and Mapping within the Commission to 22 serve as the central point of collection, aggregation, 23 and validation of data collected under the standard- 24 ized methodology established under this subsection. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:38 Aug 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4128.IH H4128 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 6 •HR 4128 IH (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary 2 shall establish a technical assistance program under 3 which the Assistant Secretary shall provide grants to 4 State and local entities, such as regional planning 5 organizations, to— 6 (A) assist such entities with mapping and 7 the development of a GIS-based map of existing 8 fixed broadband internet service and mobile 9 broadband internet service; and 10 (B) assess current broadband internet 11 service adoption rates and advertised broadband 12 internet service pricing in the community. 13 (2) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds received under this 14 subsection— 15 (A) shall be used to— 16 (i) carry out the activities described in 17 subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph 18 (1); and 19 (ii) participate in the standardized on- 20 going validation process and public feed- 21 back mechanism described in subsection 22 (a)(1)(F); and 23 (B) may be used to purchase GIS software 24 and for technical assistance with that software. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:38 Aug 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4128.IH H4128 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 7 •HR 4128 IH (3) OTHER USES FOR GIS SOFTWARE.—A 1 grantee may use GIS software acquired using funds 2 received under this subsection for other purposes in 3 addition to broadband internet service mapping. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:38 Aug 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4128.IH H4128 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS