Cuellar (TX) #51 (WITHDRAWN)
- Would increase funding levels for broadband by $3 billion, which would provide the National Telecommunications and Information Administration additional funding to provide broadband for rural communities.
%u2022 Extending Broadband Services
o Provides $7.2 billion for extending broadband services to underserved
communities across the country, so that rural and inner-city businesses can
compete with any company in the world.
o For every dollar invested in broadband, the economy sees a ten-fold return on that
investment.
DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND PROGRAM
For an additional amount for the cost of broadband loans and
loan guarantees, as authorized by the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) and for grants (including for technical
assistance), $2,500,000,000: Provided, That the cost of direct and
guaranteed loans shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That, notwithstanding
title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, this amount is
available for grants, loans and loan guarantees for broadband infrastructure
in any area of the United States: Provided further, That
at least 75 percent of the area to be served by a project receiving
funds from such grants, loans or loan guarantees shall be in a
rural area without sufficient access to high speed broadband service
to facilitate rural economic development, as determined by the
Secretary of Agriculture: Provided further, That priority for
awarding such funds shall be given to project applications for
broadband systems that will deliver end users a choice of more
than one service provider: Provided further, That priority for
awarding funds made available under this paragraph shall be given
to projects that provide service to the highest proportion of rural
residents that do not have access to broadband service: Provided
further, That priority shall be given for project applications from
borrowers or former borrowers under title II of the Rural Electrification
Act of 1936 and for project applications that include such
borrowers or former borrowers: Provided further, That priority for
awarding such funds shall be given to project applications that
demonstrate that, if the application is approved, all project elements
will be fully funded: Provided further, That priority for awarding such funds shall be given to project applications for activities that can be completed if the requested funds are provided: Provided
further, That priority for awarding such funds shall be given to
activities that can commence promptly following approval: Provided
further, That no area of a project funded with amounts made
available under this paragraph may receive funding to provide
broadband service under the Broadband Technology Opportunities
Program: Provided further, That the Secretary shall submit a report
on planned spending and actual obligations describing the use
of these funds not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, and quarterly thereafter until all funds are obligated,
to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate.
(j) Concurrent with the issuance of the Request for Proposal
for grant applications pursuant to this section, the Assistant Secretary
shall, in coordination with the Commission, publish the
non-discrimination and network interconnection obligations that
shall be contractual conditions of grants awarded under this section,
including, at a minimum, adherence to the principles contained
in the Commission's broadband policy statement (FCC 05-15,
adopted August 5, 2005)Federal Communications Commission FCC 05-151
The availability of the Internet has had a profound impact on American life. This network of
networks has fundamentally changed the way we communicate.
1 It has increased the speed of communication, the range of communicating devices and the variety of platforms over which we can send and receive information.
2 As Congress has noted, "[t]he rapidly developing array of Internet . . . services available to individual Americans represent an extraordinary advance in the availability of educational
and informational resources to our citizens."
3 The Internet also represents "a forum for a true diversity of political discourse, unique opportunities for cultural development, and myriad avenues for intellectual activity."
4 In addition, the Internet plays an important role in the economy, as an engine for productivity
growth and cost savings.
2. In section 230(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act or Act),
Congress describes its national Internet policy. Specifically, Congress states that it is the policy of the United States "to preserve the vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the Internet"6 and "to promote the continued development of the Internet."7 In section 706(a) of the Act, Congress charges the Commission with "encourag[ing] the deployment on a reasonable and timely basis of advanced telecommunications capability" - broadband - "to all Americans."8
3. In this Policy Statement, the Commission offers guidance and insight into its approach to the
Internet and broadband that is consistent with these Congressional directives.
To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected
nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of
their choice.
%u2022 To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected
nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their
choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement.
%u2022 To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected
nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that
do not harm the network.13
%u2022 To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected
nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to competition among network providers,
application and service providers, and content providers.14
whew...
