Internet Development for Tribes Act of 2020

II 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 4750 To assist Tribal entities in deploying broadband using the 2.5 GHz spectrum band. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 Mr. HEINRICH introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To assist Tribal entities in deploying broadband using the 2.5 GHz spectrum band. 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 ‘‘Internet Development 4 for Tribes Act of 2020’’. 5 SEC. 2. USE OF 2.5 GHZ SPECTRUM BAND BY TRIBAL ENTI- 6 TIES. 7 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 8 (1) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal 9 Communications Commission; 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:27 Oct 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4750.IS S4750 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 4750 IS (2) the term ‘‘covered license’’ means a license 1 acquired in the Rural Tribal Priority Window; 2 (3) the term ‘‘covered licensee’’ means the hold- 3 er of a covered license; and 4 (4) the term ‘‘Rural Tribal Priority Window’’ 5 means the priority filing window for Tribal entities 6 to obtain licenses for spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band 7 established in the Report and Order in the matter 8 of Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band adopted by the 9 Commission on July 10, 2019 (FCC 19–62). 10 (b) PRESERVATION OF TRIBAL LICENSES.—The 11 Commission may not— 12 (1) impose any build-out or performance re- 13 quirement on a covered licensee; or 14 (2) cancel or terminate a covered license if a 15 covered licensee fails to meet any construction or 16 performance benchmark. 17 (c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 18 (1) IN GENERAL.—At the request of a covered 19 licensee, the Commission shall provide technical as- 20 sistance and guidance regarding the most effective 21 use of the 2.5 GHz band for wireless and broadband 22 services, including with respect to— 23 (A) infrastructure acquisition and develop- 24 ment; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:27 Oct 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4750.IS S4750 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 4750 IS (B) digital literacy services; 1 (C) managerial best practices; and 2 (D) how to expedite the deployment of 3 broadband. 4 (2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.—The 5 Commission shall award technical assistance grants 6 to covered licensees, on a competitive basis, to obtain 7 assistance in identifying financial resources, improv- 8 ing broadband functions, increasing digital literacy, 9 and acquiring professional consultation related to 10 use of the 2.5 GHz band. 11 (d) EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION GRANTS.— 12 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall award 13 grants to covered licensees, on a competitive basis, 14 for the acquisition of appropriate equipment and 15 services related to use of the 2.5 GHz band, includ- 16 ing— 17 (A) appropriate backhaul infrastructure 18 and edge devices; 19 (B) educational equipment, such as lap- 20 tops; 21 (C) installment of equipment (other than 22 educational equipment) or required permitting 23 and right-of-way services; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:27 Oct 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4750.IS S4750 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •S 4750 IS (D) any other type of equipment or service 1 identified by the Commission in consultation 2 with the Office of Native Affairs and Policy of 3 the Commission and the Native Nations Com- 4 munications Task Force. 5 (2) DURATION OF GRANT.—A grant awarded 6 under paragraph (1) shall be for a period of 2 years. 7 (3) APPLICATION.—Not later than 1 year after 8 the date of enactment of this Act, a covered licensee 9 seeking a grant under paragraph (1) shall submit an 10 application to the Commission in such manner, and 11 containing such information, as the Commission may 12 require. 13 (4) CONSULTATION.—In developing the grant 14 program under this subsection, including criteria for 15 applications under paragraph (3), the Commission 16 shall consult with the Office of Native Affairs and 17 Policy of the Commission and the Native Nations 18 Communications Task Force. 19 (e) SURPLUS EQUIPMENT.— 20 (1) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 21 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comp- 22 troller General of the United States shall assess and 23 submit to Congress a report on whether the Federal 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:27 Oct 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4750.IS S4750 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •S 4750 IS Government possesses any surplus equipment that 1 can be used to access the 2.5 GHz band. 2 (2) TRANSFER TO FCC.—If the Comptroller 3 General finds under paragraph (1) that the Federal 4 Government possesses surplus equipment that can 5 be used to access the 2.5 GHz band— 6 (A) each Federal agency that is found to 7 have such surplus equipment shall transfer the 8 equipment to the Commission; and 9 (B) the Commission shall distribute the 10 equipment to covered licensees to aid the licens- 11 ees in deploying broadband service using the 12 2.5 GHz band. 13 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 14 authorized to be appropriated to the Commission— 15 (1) $25,000,000 for technical assistance grants 16 under subsection (c)(2); and 17 (2) $100,000,000 for equipment acquisition 18 grants under subsection (d). 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:27 Oct 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S4750.IS S4750 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS