Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 4201
116th Congress(2019-2020)
A bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to take certain actions to accelerate the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, and for other purposes.
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Jul 2, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced
Jul 2, 2020
Latest Action
Jul 2, 2020
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
4201
Congress
116
Policy Area
Science, Technology, Communications
Science, Technology, Communications
Primary focus of measure is natural sciences, space exploration, research policy and funding, research and development, STEM education, scientific cooperation and communication; technology policies, telecommunication, information technology; digital media, journalism. Measures concerning scientific education may fall under Education policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Ohio
Democrat
Alabama
Republican
Indiana
Democrat
Minnesota
Republican
South Carolina
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take specified actions to expedite the provision of broadband internet access service in unserved rural areas.

Specifically, the FCC must modify the framework for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, which aims to facilitate the provision of broadband service to areas that are wholly unserved. Among other requirements, the FCC (1) must accept long-form applications prior to such auction from applicants that are willing to commit to a specified schedule for deploying broadband internet access service, and (2) shall not require applicants to be designated as eligible telecommunications carriers in order to receive Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support.

In addition, the bill establishes a deadline of October 1, 2020, for the FCC to create broadband maps that depict the extent of availability of broadband service in the United States and the areas that remain unserved.

Text (1)
Actions (2)
07/02/2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
07/02/2020
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:45:39 PM