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7 U.S.C. § 950bb — Access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Purpose** The purpose of this section is to provide grants, provide loans, and provide loan guarantees to provide funds for the costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas.
**(b) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Broadband service** — The term “broadband service” means any technology identified by the Secretary as having the capacity to transmit data to enable a subscriber to the service to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video.
(2) **Incumbent service provider** — The term “incumbent service provider”, with respect to an application submitted under this section, means an entity that, as of the date of submission of the application, is providing broadband service to not less than 5 percent of the households in the service territory proposed in the application.
(3) **Rural area**
(A) *In general* — The term “rural area” means any area other than—
(i) an area described in clause (i) or (ii) of [section 1991(a)(13)(A) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1991/a/13/A&num=0&edition=prelim); and
(ii) in the case of a grant or direct loan, a city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants.
(B) *Urban area growth* — The Secretary may, by regulation only, consider an area described in [section 1991(a)(13)(F)(i)(I) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1991/a/13/F/i/I&num=0&edition=prelim) to not be a rural area for purposes of this section.
(C) *Exclusion of certain populations* — Such term does not include any population described in subparagraph (H) or (I) of [section 1991(a)(13) of this title](h
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-7/section-950bb-access-to-broadband-telecommunications-services-in-rural-areas--88d40def4a.md
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Source location: Title 7, Chapter 31, § 950bb; chapter-031-rural-electrification-and-telephone-service.md
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**(a) Purpose** The purpose of this section is to provide grants, provide loans, and provide loan guarantees to provide funds for the costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas.
**(b) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Broadband service** — The term “broadband service” means any technology identified by the Secretary as having the capacity to transmit data to enable a subscriber to the service to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video.
(2) **Incumbent service provider** — The term “incumbent service provider”, with respect to an application submitted under this section, means an entity that, as of the date of submission of the application, is providing broadband service to not less than 5 percent of the households in the service territory proposed in the application.
(3) **Rural area**
(A) *In general* — The term “rural area” means any area other than—
(i) an area described in clause (i) or (ii) of [section 1991(a)(13)(A) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1991/a/13/A&num=0&edition=prelim); and
(ii) in the case of a grant or direct loan, a city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants.
(B) *Urban area growth* — The Secretary may, by regulation only, consider an area described in [section 1991(a)(13)(F)(i)(I) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1991/a/13/F/i/I&num=0&edition=prelim) to not be a rural area for purposes of this section.
(C) *Exclusion of certain populations* — Such term does not include any population described in subparagraph (H) or (I) of [section 1991(a)(13) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1991/a/13&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(c) Grants, loans, and loan guarantees**
(1) **In general** — The Secretary shall make grants, shall make loans, and shall guarantee loans to eligible entities described in subsection (d) to provide funds for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment for the provision of broadband service in rural areas.
(2) **Priority**
(A) *In general* — In making grants, making loans, and guaranteeing loans under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(i) give the highest priority to applications for projects to provide broadband service to unserved rural communities that do not have any residential broadband service of at least—
(I) a 10-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and
(II) a 1-Mbps upstream transmission capacity;
(ii) give priority to applications for projects to provide the maximum level of broadband service to the greatest proportion of rural households in the proposed service area identified in the application;
(iii) provide equal consideration to all eligible entities, including those that have not previously received grants, loans, or loan guarantees under paragraph (1); and
(iv) with respect to 2 or more applications that are given the same priority under clause (i), give priority to an application that requests less grant funding than loan funding.
(B) *Other* — After giving priority to the applications described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall then give priority to applications—
(i) for projects to provide broadband service to rural communities—
(I) with a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents;
(II) that are experiencing outmigration and have adopted a strategic community investment plan under [section 2008v(d) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section2008v/d&num=0&edition=prelim) that includes considerations for improving and expanding broadband service;
(III) with a high percentage of low income families or persons (as defined in [section 1471(b) of title 42](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1471/b&num=0&edition=prelim));
(IV) that are isolated from other significant population centers; or
(V) that provide rapid and expanded deployment of fixed and mobile broadband on cropland and ranchland within a service territory for use in various applications of precision agriculture; and
(ii) that were developed with the participation of, and will receive a substantial portion of the funding for the project from, 2 or more stakeholders, including—
(I) State, local, and tribal governments;
(II) nonprofit institutions;
(III) community anchor institutions, such as—
(aa) public libraries;
(bb) elementary schools and secondary schools (as defined in [section 7801 of title 20](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title20-section7801&num=0&edition=prelim));
(cc) institutions of higher education; and
(dd) health care facilities;
(IV) private entities;
(V) philanthropic organizations; and
(VI) cooperatives.
(3) **Grant amounts**
(A) *Definition of development costs* — In this paragraph, the term “development costs” means costs of—
(i) construction, including labor and materials;
(ii) project applications; and
(iii) other development activities, as determined by the Secretary.
(B) *Eligibility* — To be eligible for a grant under this section, in addition to the requirements of subsection (d), the project that is the subject of the grant shall—
(i) be carried out in a proposed service territory in which not less than 90 percent of the households are unserved; and
(ii) not concurrently receive any other broadband grant administered by the Rural Utilities Service.
(C) *Maximum* — Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the amount of any grant made under this section shall not exceed—
(i) 75 percent of the total project cost with respect to an area with a density of fewer than 7 people per square mile;
(ii) 50 percent of the total project cost with respect to an area with a density of 7 or more and fewer than 12 people per square mile; and
(iii) 25 percent of the total project cost with respect to an area with a density of 12 or more and 20 or fewer people per square mile.
(D) *Secretarial authority to adjust* — The Secretary may—
(i) make grants of up to 75 percent of the development costs of the project for which the grant is provided to an eligible entity if the Secretary determines that the project serves—
(I) an area of rural households described in paragraph (2)(A)(i); or
(II) a rural community described in any of subclauses (I) through (IV) of paragraph (2)(B)(i); and
(ii) make modifications of the density thresholds described in subparagraph (C), in order to ensure that funds provided under this section are best utilized to provide broadband service in communities that are the most rural in character.
(E) *Applications* — The Secretary shall establish an application process for grants under this section that—
(i) permits a single application for a grant and a loan under subchapter I, II, or this subchapter that is associated with such grant; and
(ii) provides a single decision to award such grant and such loan.
(F) *Density determinations* — When determining population density under this section, the Secretary shall prescribe a calculation method which—
(i) utilizes publicly available data; and
(ii) includes only those areas in which the applicant is able to meet the service requirements under this section, as determined by the Secretary.
(4) **Fees** — In the case of loan guarantees issued or modified under this section, the Secretary shall charge and collect from the lender fees in such amounts as to bring down the costs of subsidies for guaranteed loans, except that such fees shall not act as a bar to participation in the programs nor be inconsistent with current practices in the marketplace.
**(d) Eligibility**
(1) **Eligible entities**
(A) *In general* — To be eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or loan guarantee under this section, an entity shall—
(i) demonstrate the ability to furnish or improve service in order to meet the broadband buildout requirements established under subsection (e)(4) in all or part of an unserved or underserved rural area;
(ii) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; and
(iii) agree to complete buildout of the broadband infrastructure described in the application by not later than 5 years after the initial date on which assistance under this section is made available.
(B) *Limitation* — An eligible entity that provides telecommunications or broadband service to at least 20 percent of the households in the United States may not receive an amount of funds under this section for a fiscal year in excess of 15 percent of the funds authorized and appropriated under subsection (j) for the fiscal year.
(2) **Eligible projects**
(A) *In general* — Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), assistance under this section may be used to carry out a project in a proposed service territory only if, as of the date on which the application of the eligible entity is submitted—
(i) not less than 50 percent (in the case of loans or loan guarantees provided in accordance with subsection (g)(1)(A)) of the households in the proposed service territory are unserved or have service levels below the minimum acceptable level of fixed broadband service, whether terrestrial or wireless, established under subsection (e); and
(ii) broadband service is not provided in any part of the proposed service territory by 3 or more incumbent service providers.
(B) *Exception to percent requirement* — Subparagraph (A)(i) shall not apply to the proposed service territory of a project if a loan or loan guarantee has been made under this section to the applicant to provide broadband service in the proposed service territory.
(C) *Exception to incumbent service provider requirement*
(i) *In general* — Except as provided in clause (ii), subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not apply to an incumbent service provider in the portion of a proposed service territory in which the provider is upgrading broadband service to meet the minimum acceptable level of broadband service established under subsection (e) for the existing territory of the incumbent service provider.
(ii) *Exception* — Clause (i) shall not apply if the applicant is eligible for funding under another subchapter of this chapter.
(3) **Equity and market survey requirements**
(A) *In general* — The Secretary may require an entity to provide a cost share in an amount not to exceed 10 percent of the amount of the grant, loan, or loan guarantee requested in the application of the entity, unless the Secretary determines that a higher percentage is required for financial feasibility.
(B) *Market survey*
(i) *In general* — The Secretary may require an entity that proposes to have a subscriber projection of more than 20 percent of the broadband service market in a rural area to submit to the Secretary a market survey.
(ii) *Less than 20 percent* — The Secretary may not require an entity that proposes to have a subscriber projection of less than 20 percent of the broadband service market in a rural area to submit to the Secretary a market survey.
(iii) *Information* — Information submitted under this subparagraph shall be—
(I) certified by the affected community, city, county, or designee; or
(II) demonstrated on—
(aa) the broadband map of the affected State if the map contains address-level data; or
(bb) the National Broadband Map if address-level data is unavailable.
(4) **State and local governments and Indian tribes** — Subject to paragraph (1), a State or local government (including any agency, subdivision, or instrumentality thereof (including consortia thereof)) and an Indian tribe shall be eligible for assistance under this section to provide broadband services to a rural area.
(5) **Technical assistance and training**
(A) *In general* — The Secretary may provide to eligible entities described in paragraph (1) that are applying for assistance under this section for a project described in subsection (c)(2)(A)(i) technical assistance and training—
(i) to prepare reports and surveys necessary to request grants, loans, and loan guarantees under this section for broadband deployment;
(ii) to improve management, including financial management, relating to the proposed broadband deployment;
(iii) to prepare applications for grants, loans, and loan guarantees under this section; or
(iv) to assist with other areas of need identified by the Secretary.
(B) *Funding* — Not less than 3 percent and not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be used for technical assistance and training under this paragraph.
**(e) Broadband service**
(1) **In general** — Subject to paragraph (2), for purposes of this section, the minimum acceptable level of broadband service for a rural area shall be at least—
(A) a 25-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and
(B) a 3-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.
(2) **Adjustments** — At least once every 2 years, the Secretary shall review, and may adjust through notice published in the Federal Register, the minimum acceptable level of broadband service established under paragraph (1) and broadband buildout requirements under paragraph (4) to ensure that high quality, cost-effective broadband service is provided to rural areas over time.
(3) **Prohibition** — The Secretary shall not establish requirements for bandwidth or speed that have the effect of precluding the use of evolving technologies appropriate for rural areas.
(4) **Broadband buildout requirements**
(A) *In general* — The term “broadband buildout requirement” means the level of internet service an applicant receiving assistance under this section must agree, at the time the application is finalized, to provide for the duration of any project-related agreement between the applicant and the Department.
(B) *Broadband buildout requirements further defined* — Subject to subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall establish broadband buildout requirements for projects with agreement lengths of—
(i) 5 to 10 years;
(ii) 11 to 15 years;
(iii) 16 to 20 years; and
(iv) more than 20 years.
(C) *Requirements* — In establishing the broadband buildout requirements under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall—
(i) utilize the same metrics used to define the minimum acceptable level of broadband service under paragraph (1); 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by “and”.
(ii) establish such requirements to reasonably ensure—
(I) the repayment of all loans and loan guarantees; and
(II) the financed network is technically capable of providing broadband service for the lifetime of any project-related agreement.
(D) *Substitute service standards for unique service territories* — If an applicant shows that it would be cost prohibitive to meet the broadband buildout requirements established under this paragraph for the entirety of a proposed service territory due to the unique characteristics of the proposed service territory, the Secretary and the applicant may agree to utilize substitute standards for any unserved portion of the project. Any substitute service standards should continue to consider the best technology available to meet the needs of the residents in the unserved area.
**(f) Technological neutrality** For purposes of determining whether to provide assistance for a project under this section, the Secretary shall use criteria that are technologically neutral.
**(g) Terms and conditions for loans and loan guarantees**
(1) **In general** — Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a loan or loan guarantee under this section shall—
(A) bear interest at an annual rate of, as determined by the Secretary—
(i) in the case of a direct loan, a rate equivalent to—
(I) the cost of borrowing to the Department of the Treasury for obligations of comparable maturity; or
(II) 4 percent; and
(ii) in the case of a guaranteed loan, the current applicable market rate for a loan of comparable maturity; and
(B) have a term of such length, not exceeding 35 years, as the borrower may request, if the Secretary determines that the loan is adequately secured.
(2) **Recurring revenue** — The Secretary shall consider the existing recurring revenues of the entity at the time of application in determining an adequate level of credit support.
**(h) Adequacy of security**
(1) **In general** — The Secretary shall ensure that the type and amount of, and method of security used to secure, any loan or loan guarantee under this section is commensurate to the risk involved with the loan or loan guarantee, particularly in any case in which the loan or loan guarantee is issued to a financially strong and stable entity, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) **Determination of amount and method of security** — In determining the amount of, and method of security used to secure, a loan or loan guarantee under this section, the Secretary shall consider reducing the security in a rural area that does not have broadband service.
**(i) Payment assistance for certain loan and grant recipients**
(1) **Use of grant funds** — The Secretary may use the funds appropriated for a grant under this subchapter for the cost (as defined by [section 661a of title 2](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title2-section661a&num=0&edition=prelim)) of providing assistance under paragraph (2).
(2) **Payment assistance** — When providing a grant under this subchapter, the Secretary, at the sole discretion of the Secretary, may make—
(A) a subsidized loan, which shall bear a reduced interest rate at such a rate as the Secretary determines appropriate to meet the objectives of the program; or
(B) a payment assistance loan, which shall—
(i) require no interest and principal payments while the borrower is—
(I) in material compliance with the loan agreement; and
(II) meeting the milestones and objectives of the project agreed to under paragraph (3); and
(ii) require such nominal periodic payments as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(3) **Agreement on milestones and objectives** — With respect to payment assistance provided under paragraph (2), before entering into the agreement under which the payment assistance will be provided, the applicant and the Secretary shall agree to milestones and objectives of the project.
(4) **Amendment of milestones and objectives** — The Secretary and the applicant may jointly agree to amend the milestones and objectives agreed to under paragraph (3).
(5) **Considerations** — When deciding to utilize the payment assistance authority under paragraph (2) the Secretary shall consider whether or not the payment assistance will—
(A) improve the compliance of the grantee with any commitments made through the grant agreement;
(B) promote the completion of the broadband project;
(C) protect taxpayer resources; and
(D) support the integrity of the broadband programs administered by the Secretary.
(6) **Limitations on payment assistance** — The Secretary may not make a payment assistance loan under paragraph (2)(B) to an entity receiving a grant under this section that is also the recipient of a loan under subchapter I or II that is associated with such grant.
**(j) Funding**
(1) **Authorization of appropriations** — There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, to remain available until expended.
(2) **Allocation of funds**
(A) *In general* — From amounts made available for each fiscal year under this subsection, the Secretary shall—
(i) establish a national reserve for loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities in States under this section; and
(ii) allocate amounts in the reserve to each State for each fiscal year for loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities in the State.
(B) *Amount* — The amount of an allocation made to a State for a fiscal year under subparagraph (A) shall bear the same ratio to the amount of allocations made for all States for the fiscal year as—
(i) the number of communities with a population of 2,500 inhabitants or less in the State; bears to
(ii) the number of communities with a population of 2,500 inhabitants or less in all States.
(C) *Unobligated amounts* — Any amounts in the reserve established for a State for a fiscal year under subparagraph (B) that are not obligated by April 1 of the fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary to make loans and loan guarantees under this section to eligible entities in any State, as determined by the Secretary.
**(k) Termination of authority** No grant, or loan, or loan guarantee may be made under this section after September 30, 2023.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
At the written request of a Senator, the Director shall, to the extent practicable, prepare an estimate of the direct costs of a Federal intergovernmental mandate contained in an amendment of such Senator.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Notwithstanding section 801—
(1) any rule that establishes, modifies, opens, closes, or conducts a regulatory program for a commercial, recreational, or subsistence activity related to hunting, fishing, or camping, or
(2) any rule which an agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rule issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest,
shall take effect at such time as the Federal agency promulgating the rule determines.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Except as otherwise provided, in this chapter:
(1) **Average daily attendance**
(A) *In general* — Except as provided otherwise by State law or this paragraph, the term “average daily attendance” means—
(i) the aggregate number of days of attendance of all students during a school year; divided by
(ii) the number of days school is in session during that year.
(B) *Conversion* — The Secretary shall permit the conversion of average daily membership (or other similar data) to average daily attendance for local educational agencies in States that provide State aid to local educational agencies on the basis of average daily membership (or other similar data).
(C) *Special rule* — If the local educational agency in which a child resides makes a tuition or other payment for the free public education of the child in a school located in another school district, the Secretary shall, for the purpose of this chapter—
(i) consider the child to be in attendance at a school of the agency making the payment; and
(ii) not consider the child to be in attendance at a school of the agency receiving the payment.
(D) *Children with disabilities* — If a local educational agency makes a tuition payment to a private school or to a public school of another local educational agency for a child with a disability, as defined in [section 1401 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title20-section1401&num=0&edition=prelim), the Secretary shall, for the purpose of this chapter, consider the child to be in attendance at a school of the agency making the payment.
(2) **Average per-pupil expenditure** — The term “average per-pupil expenditure” means, in the case of a State or of the United States—
(A) without regard to the source o
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Agricultural commodity** — The term “agricultural commodity” has the meaning given the term in [section 5602 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section5602&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2) **Geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher** — The term “geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher” has the meaning given the term in section 10906(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ([7 U.S.C. 2204](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section2204&num=0&edition=prelim) note; Public Law 107–171).
**(b) Authorization** Subject to the availability of funds under subsection (d), the Secretary may provide geographically disadvantaged farmers or ranchers direct reimbursement payments for activities described in subsection (c).
**(c) Transportation**
(1) **In general** — Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary may provide direct reimbursement payments to a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher to transport an agricultural commodity, or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity, during a fiscal year.
(2) **Proof of eligibility** — To be eligible to receive assistance under paragraph (1), a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher shall demonstrate to the Secretary that transportation of the agricultural commodity or inputs occurred over a distance of more than 30 miles, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) **Amount**
(A) *In general* — Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of direct reimbursement payments made to a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher under this section for a fiscal year shall equal the product obtained by multiplying—
(i) the amount of costs incurred by the geographically di
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** This section applies, according to the provisions thereof, except to the extent that there is involved—
(1) a military or foreign affairs function of the United States; or
(2) a matter relating to agency management or personnel or to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts.
**(b)** General notice of proposed rule making shall be published in the Federal Register, unless persons subject thereto are named and either personally served or otherwise have actual notice thereof in accordance with law. The notice shall include—
(1) a statement of the time, place, and nature of public rule making proceedings;
(2) reference to the legal authority under which the rule is proposed;
(3) either the terms or substance of the proposed rule or a description of the subjects and issues involved; and
(4) the Internet address of a summary of not more than 100 words in length of the proposed rule, in plain language, that shall be posted on the Internet website under section 206(d) of the E-Government Act of 2002 ([44 U.S.C. 3501](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title44-section3501&num=0&edition=prelim) note) (commonly known as regulations.gov).
Except when notice or hearing is required by statute, this subsection does not apply—
(A) to interpretative rules, general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice; or
(B) when the agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.
**(c)** After notice required by this section, the agency shall give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making through subm
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Maintenance of base acres and payment yields** The Secretary shall maintain, for each covered commodity and upland cotton, base acres and payment yields on a farm established under sections 8702 and 8751 of this title, as adjusted pursuant to sections 8711, 8712, 8718, and 8752 of this title, as in effect on September 30, 2013, and as adjusted pursuant to sections 9012 and 9013 of this title.
**(b) Streamlining** In implementing this chapter and the amendments made by this title,11 See References in Text note below. the Secretary shall—
(1) continue to reduce administrative burdens and costs to producers by streamlining and reducing paperwork, forms, and other administrative requirements, to ensure that—
(A) a producer (or an agent of a producer) may report information, electronically (including geospatial data) or conventionally, to the Department of Agriculture, subject to the Secretary—
(i) establishing reasonable levels of tolerance that reflect the differences in accuracy between measures of common land units and geospatial data; and
(ii) ensuring that discrepancies that occur within the levels of tolerance established under clause (i) shall not be used to penalize a producer (or an agent of a producer) under any program administered by the Department of Agriculture;
(B) on the request of a producer (or an agent of a producer), the Department of Agriculture electronically shares with the producer (or agent) in real time and without cost to the producer (or agent) the common land unit data, related farm level data, conservation practices, and other information of the producer through a single Department of Agriculture-wide login;
(C) not later than September 30, 2020, the Administrator of the Risk Management Agency and the Administrator of
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Short title** This section may be cited as the “Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act” or the “ACCESS BROADBAND Act”.
**(b) Establishment** Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Assistant Secretary shall establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
**(c) Duties**
(1) **Outreach** — The Office shall—
(A) connect with communities that need access to high-speed internet and improved digital inclusion efforts through various forms of outreach and communication techniques;
(B) hold regional workshops across the country to share best practices and effective strategies for promoting broadband access and adoption;
(C) develop targeted broadband training and presentations for various demographic communities through various media;
(D) develop and distribute publications (including toolkits, primers, manuals, and white papers) providing guidance, strategies, and insights to communities as the communities develop strategies to expand broadband access and adoption; and
(E) as applicable in carrying out subparagraphs (A) through (D), coordinate with State agencies that provide similar broadband investments, outreach, and coordination through Federal programs.
(2) **Tracking of Federal dollars**
(A) *Broadband infrastructure* — The Office shall track the construction and use of and access to any broadband infrastructure built using any Federal support in a central database.
(B) *Accounting mechanism* — The Office shall develop a streamlined accounting mechanism by which any agency offering a Federal broadband support program and the Commission for any U
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 47 U.S.C. § 1307
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. Incoming connection: Explicit cross-reference supplied in source Markdown; currentness and applicability require review.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Assistant Secretary** — The term “Assistant Secretary” means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
(2) **Broadband or broadband service.—** — The term “broadband” or “broadband service” has the meaning given the term “broadband internet access service” in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(3) **Commission** — The term “Commission” means the Federal Communications Commission.
(4) **Covered broadband project** — The term “covered broadband project” means a competitively and technologically neutral project for the deployment of fixed broadband service that provides qualifying broadband service in an eligible service area.
(5) **Covered partnership** — The term “covered partnership” means a partnership between—
(A) a State, or 1 or more political subdivisions of a State; and
(B) a provider of fixed broadband service.
(6) **Department** — The term “Department” means the Department of Commerce.
(7) **Eligible service area** — The term “eligible service area” means a census block in which broadband service is not available at 1 or more households or businesses in the census block, as determined by the Assistant Secretary on the basis of—
(A) the maps created under section 802(c)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 ([47 U.S.C. 642(c)(1)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title47-section642/c/1&num=0&edition=prelim)); or
(B) if the maps described in subparagraph (A) are not available, the most recent information available to the Assistant Secretary, including information provided by the Commission.
(8) **Eligible entity** — The term “eligible entity” means—
(A) a Tribal Government;
(B) a Tribal Coll
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 47 U.S.C. § 1705
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. Incoming connection: Explicit cross-reference supplied in source Markdown; currentness and applicability require review.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Appointment and compensation of Administrator; transfer of powers, duties, and assets pertaining to agricultural credit** In accordance with [section 2006a of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section2006a&num=0&edition=prelim), for purposes of this chapter, and for the administration of assets under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the Farmers Home Administration Act of 1946, as amended, the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended, the Act of August 28, 1937, as amended, the Act of April 6, 1949, as amended, the Act of August 31, 1954, as amended, and the powers and duties of the Secretary under any other Act authorizing agricultural credit, the Secretary may assign and transfer such powers, duties, and assets to such officers or agencies of the Department of Agriculture as the Secretary considers appropriate.
**(b) Powers of Secretary of Agriculture** The Secretary may—
(1) administer his powers and duties through such national, area, State, or local offices and employees in the United States as he determines to be necessary and may authorize an office to serve the area composed of two or more States if he determines that the volume of business in the area is not sufficient to justify separate State offices, and until January 1, 1975, make contracts for services incident to making, insuring, collecting, and servicing loans and property as determined by the Secretary to be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this chapter; (and the Secretary shall prior to June 30, 1974, report to the Congress through the President on the experience in using such contracts, together with recommendations for such legislation as he may see fit);
(2) accept and utilize voluntary and uncompensated s
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 7 U.S.C. § 1981a
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definitions** In this section:
(1) **Eligible entity** — The term “eligible entity” means a rural jobs accelerator partnership established after December 20, 2018, that—
(A) organizes key community and regional stakeholders into a working group that—
(i) focuses on the shared goals and needs of the industry clusters that are objectively identified as existing, emerging, or declining;
(ii) represents a region defined by the partnership in accordance with subparagraph (B);
(iii) includes 1 or more representatives of—
(I) an institution of higher education (as defined in [section 1001 of title 20](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title20-section1001&num=0&edition=prelim));
(II) a private entity; or
(III) a government entity; and
(iv) has, as a lead applicant—
(I) a District Organization (as defined in section 300.3 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation));
(II) an Indian tribe (as defined in [section 5304 of title 25](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section5304&num=0&edition=prelim)), or a consortium of Indian tribes;
(III) a State or a political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions;
(IV) an institution of higher education (as defined in [section 1001 of title 20](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title20-section1001&num=0&edition=prelim)) or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or
(V) a public or private nonprofit organization; and
(B) subject to approval by the Secretary, may—
(i) serve a region that is—
(
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 7 U.S.C. § 2008x
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. Incoming connection: Explicit cross-reference supplied in source Markdown; currentness and applicability require review.