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BillIntroduced

Rural Broadband Window of Opportunity Act

H.R. 46January 3, 2025Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]View Original
Science, Technology, CommunicationsAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAtmospheric science and weatherFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Government trust fundsInternet, web applications, social mediaRural conditions and developmentTelephone and wireless communication

Summary

Rural Broadband Window of Opportunity ActThis bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prioritize the processing of applications for certain rural broadband expansion projects that are located in areas with the shortest construction seasons (e.g., areas with long winters and heavy snowfall).Specifically, the FCC must prioritize processing such applications for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase II auction, which aims to facilitate the provision of broadband service to areas that are partially served. (The RDOF program's first phase, which is focused on broadband service for wholly unserved areas, is underway.)

Full Text

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 46 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 46 To direct the Federal Communications Commission to prioritize the timely processing of certain long-form applications in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase II auction. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2025 Mr. Bergman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to prioritize the timely processing of certain long-form applications in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase II auction. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Broadband Window of Opportunity Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to level the playing field for service providers participating in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund that are disadvantaged by short construction seasons.

SEC. 3. APPLICATION PROCESSING PRIORITIZATION.

With respect to the long-form applicants of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase II auction provided for in the Report and Order in the matter of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and Connect America Fund adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (in this section referred to as the ``Commission'') on January 30, 2020 (FCC 20-5), the Commission shall prioritize the timely processing of long-form applications and any subsequent paperwork (in this section referred to as the ``applications'') submitted by the long-form applicants as follows: The Commission shall prioritize the timely processing of applications which are proposing to provide service in geographic areas which the Commission determines to have the shortest construction seasons (such as in areas characterized by long winters with heavy snowfall). <all>