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To establish the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives within the Department of Agriculture, to preserve open Internet requirements, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-800| House 
| Updated: 2/24/2017
Jared Huffman

Jared Huffman

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (20)
Tim Ryan (Democratic)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Richard M. Nolan (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)Keith Ellison (Democratic)John Conyers (Democratic)Timothy J. Walz (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)Beto O'Rourke (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Alcee L. Hastings (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)
Committees (7)
• Federal Lands Subcommittee• Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee• Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee• Agriculture Committee• Communications and Technology Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Natural Resources Committee
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
New Deal Rural Broadband Act of 2017 This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish a rural broadband office within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and authorize new grants and loans for developing broadband in rural, underserved, and tribal areas. The bill establishes the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives and the position of Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives to: administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs currently administered by the Rural Utilities Service, conduct specified outreach and coordination activities, and conduct and release to the public an inventory of federal and state property on which a broadband facility could be constructed. The bill establishes the Breaking Ground on Rural Broadband Program and the Tribal Broadband Assistance Program to provide grants, loans, or loan guarantees for the development of broadband in rural, underserved, and tribal areas. The bill modifies existing programs to authorize USDA to: (1) provide grants, in addition to loans and loan guarantees permitted under current law, for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas; and (2) give priority to multijurisdictional projects for the development of broadband or telecommunications services through the collaboration and participation of multiple stakeholders in the service area. The bill authorizes federal land management agencies to retain and use certain rental fees for communications activities on federal lands. The agencies may use the fees for specified activities related to administering and managing communications sites.
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Timeline
Feb 1, 2017
Introduced in House
Feb 1, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 3, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Feb 15, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Feb 15, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Feb 24, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
  • February 1, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • February 1, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • February 3, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.


  • February 15, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.


  • February 15, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.


  • February 24, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2425: Public Lands Telecommunications Act
Advisory bodiesCongressional oversightDepartment of AgricultureExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyGovernment information and archivesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesIndian social and development programsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLand use and conservationMinority and disadvantaged businessesRural conditions and developmentSmall businessState and local government operationsTelephone and wireless communicationUser charges and fees

To establish the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives within the Department of Agriculture, to preserve open Internet requirements, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-800| House 
| Updated: 2/24/2017
New Deal Rural Broadband Act of 2017 This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish a rural broadband office within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and authorize new grants and loans for developing broadband in rural, underserved, and tribal areas. The bill establishes the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives and the position of Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives to: administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs currently administered by the Rural Utilities Service, conduct specified outreach and coordination activities, and conduct and release to the public an inventory of federal and state property on which a broadband facility could be constructed. The bill establishes the Breaking Ground on Rural Broadband Program and the Tribal Broadband Assistance Program to provide grants, loans, or loan guarantees for the development of broadband in rural, underserved, and tribal areas. The bill modifies existing programs to authorize USDA to: (1) provide grants, in addition to loans and loan guarantees permitted under current law, for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas; and (2) give priority to multijurisdictional projects for the development of broadband or telecommunications services through the collaboration and participation of multiple stakeholders in the service area. The bill authorizes federal land management agencies to retain and use certain rental fees for communications activities on federal lands. The agencies may use the fees for specified activities related to administering and managing communications sites.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 1, 2017
Introduced in House
Feb 1, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 3, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Feb 15, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Feb 15, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Feb 24, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
  • February 1, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • February 1, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • February 3, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.


  • February 15, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.


  • February 15, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.


  • February 24, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
Jared Huffman

Jared Huffman

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (20)
Tim Ryan (Democratic)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Richard M. Nolan (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)Keith Ellison (Democratic)John Conyers (Democratic)Timothy J. Walz (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)Beto O'Rourke (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Alcee L. Hastings (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)
Committees (7)
• Federal Lands Subcommittee• Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee• Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee• Agriculture Committee• Communications and Technology Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Natural Resources Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2425: Public Lands Telecommunications Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Advisory bodiesCongressional oversightDepartment of AgricultureExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyGovernment information and archivesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesIndian social and development programsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLand use and conservationMinority and disadvantaged businessesRural conditions and developmentSmall businessState and local government operationsTelephone and wireless communicationUser charges and fees