MAP for Broadband Funding Act in plain language
1: Short title
This section gives the Act a short name: the Modernization, Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act, or the MAP for Broadband Funding Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Modernization, Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act or the MAP for Broadband Funding Act .
2: Definitions
This section defines terms used throughout the Act. The appropriate congressional committees are the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Broadband Funding Map means the Deployment Locations Map as defined in section 60105(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(a)). Broadband infrastructure has the meaning given to that term in that same section 60105(a). The Commission means the Federal Communications Commission. NTIA means the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
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2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate ; and (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives . (2) Broadband Funding Map The term Broadband Funding Map means the Deployment Locations Map, as defined in section 60105(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704(a) ). (3) Broadband infrastructure The term broadband infrastructure has the meaning given that term in section 60105(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704(a) ). (4) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission. (5) NTIA The term NTIA means the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
3: Broadband Funding Map modernization
This section would require the Commission, working with NTIA, to collect the data that relevant Federal agencies submit for the Broadband Funding Map, doing so on a reasonable and timely basis under section 60105(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704), so that Federal broadband funds are used efficiently and Federal-funded broadband infrastructure is not built redundantly in the same place twice. Not later than 270 days after the Act is enacted, the Commission would have to start a notice of inquiry into how well the Broadband Funding Map functions and how transparent it is, including the quality and completeness of the data on the map. As part of that inquiry, the Commission would have to evaluate: how well Federal agencies have been able to collect and submit the required data categories under section 60105(d) so far; whether the public finds the existing data categories usable, and whether any category should be added, removed, or changed to improve the user experience; how timely Federal agencies' periodic updates to the map have been under section 60105(e); whether the scope of programmatic data agencies must report under section 60105(d)(1) should be expanded; and any ways the Commission could combine or streamline the Broadband Funding Map with the Commission's other existing mapping tools. Not later than 120 days after starting the inquiry, the Commission would have to complete it.
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3. Broadband Funding Map modernization (a) In general The Commission, in coordination with NTIA, shall collect data submitted for the Broadband Funding Map by relevant Federal agencies on a reasonable and timely basis pursuant to section 60105(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704 ), in order to promote the most efficient use of Federal funds for broadband deployment and prevent redundant overbuilding of broadband infrastructure with Federal funding. (b) Inquiry (1) Notice of inquiry Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall initiate a notice of inquiry concerning the optimum functionality and transparency of the Broadband Funding Map, including the quality and completeness of the data populated to the Broadband Funding Map. (2) Evaluation considerations In the inquiry, the Commission shall include evaluation of the following considerations: (A) The adequacy with which Federal agencies have been able to collect and submit the required categories of data pursuant to section 60105(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704 ) to date. (B) The usability of such existing categories of data described in subparagraph (A) to the public, and whether any category should be added, eliminated, or otherwise altered for improved user experience. (C) The timeliness of periodic updates from Federal agencies to the Broadband Funding Map described in subparagraph (A) pursuant to section 60105(e) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704 ). (D) Whether the scope of programmatic data to be reported to the Broadband Funding Map pursuant to section 60105(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704 ) should be expanded. (E) Any manners in which the Commission should potentially augment or streamline the Broadband Funding Map with existing Commission mapping tools. (3) Completion Not later than 120 days after the initiation of the inquiry under paragraph (1), the Commission shall complete the inquiry.
4: GAO Study and Report
This section would require the Comptroller General of the United States, not later than 180 days after the Act is enacted, to study the roles, responsibilities, and progress of Federal agencies in maintaining the Broadband Funding Map and keeping it complete and current, and to submit a report on that study, including findings and conclusions, to the appropriate congressional committees defined in section 2. In doing the study, the Comptroller General would have to review: how fully each eligible Federal agency is submitting programmatic data to the map in compliance with section 60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704), including identifying successful practices agencies have used and the challenges that have led to incomplete data submissions from an agency or a specific program; how well the Commission manages the map and coordinates with other agencies on it; whether the Commission has enough legal authority to collect the data it needs from Federal agencies to populate the map; the separate data-collection efforts NTIA carries out under the ACCESS BROADBAND Act (47 U.S.C. 1307) and under section 60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; how effectively the Commission, NTIA, and other Federal agencies that fund broadband infrastructure deployment, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, coordinate with each other under section 60105(g) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and how greater use of the Broadband Funding Map across these Federal agencies could save taxpayer money.
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4. GAO Study and Report (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller of the United States shall— (1) conduct a study on the roles, responsibilities, and progress to date of Federal agencies to maintain the Broadband Funding Map and ensure the completeness and continued relevance of the Broadband Funding Map; and (2) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the study under paragraph (1) that includes the findings and conclusions of the Comptroller General. (b) Requirements In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review the following: (1) The extent to which each eligible Federal agency is submitting programmatic data to the Broadband Funding Map adequately and in compliance with section 60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704 ), including identification of any— (A) successful best practices in submitting such data to the Commission; and (B) challenges resulting in incomplete data submissions from an agency or individual program to the Commission. (2) The proficiency of the Commission’s management of the Broadband Funding Map and related interagency collaboration. (3) Whether the Commission has sufficient authority to collect the necessary data from Federal agencies to populate the Broadband Funding Map. (4) The respective data collection efforts of NTIA pursuant to the ACCESS BROADBAND Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1307 ) and section 60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704 ). (5) The effectiveness of coordination among the Commission, NTIA, and other relevant Federal agencies that provide funding for broadband infrastructure deployment, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, pursuant to section 60105(g) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704 ). (6) How enhanced use of the Broadband Funding Map across relevant Federal agencies could improve taxpayer savings.