47 U.S.C. § 645 — Cost

Page 351 TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS § 645 (b) Crowdsourcing (1) In general The Commission shall develop a process through which entities or individuals in the United States may submit specific informa- tion about the deployment and availability of broadband internet access service in the United States on an ongoing basis so that the information may be used to verify and supple- ment information provided by providers of broadband internet access service for inclusion in the maps created under section 642(c)(1) of this title. (2) Collaboration As part of the efforts of the Commission to facilitate the ability of entities and individ- uals to submit information under paragraph (1), the Commission shall— (A) prioritize the consideration of data provided by data collection applications used by consumers that the Commission has determined— (i) are highly reliable; and (ii) have proven methodologies for deter- mining network coverage and network per- formance; and (B) coordinate with the Postmaster Gen- eral, the heads of other Federal agencies that operate delivery fleet vehicles, and the Director of the Bureau of the Census for as- sistance with data collection whenever co- ordination could feasibly yield more specific geographic data. (c) Technical assistance to Indian Tribes (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission shall hold workshops for Tribal Governments in each of the 12 Bureau of Indian Affairs re- gions to provide technical assistance with the collection and submission of data under sec- tion 642(a)(2) of this title. (2) Annual review Each year, the Commission, in consultation with Indian Tribes, shall review the need for continued workshops required under para- graph (1). (d) Technical assistance to small service pro- viders The Commission shall establish a process through which a provider that has fewer than 100,000 active broadband internet access service connections may request and receive assistance from the Commission with respect to geographic information system data processing to ensure that the provider is able to comply with the re- quirements under section 642(b) of this title in a timely and accurate manner. (e) Technical assistance to State, local, and Trib- al governments and consumers The Commission shall provide technical as- sistance to consumers and State, local, and Tribal governmental entities with respect to the challenge process established under section 642(b)(5) of this title, which shall include— (1) detailed tutorials and webinars; and (2) the provision of staff of the Commission to provide assistance, as needed, throughout the entirety of the challenge process. (f) GAO Assessment of Fabric source data (1) In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an assessment of key data sources that are used for purposes of the Fabric to identify and geocode locations where fixed broadband internet access service can be installed in order for the Comptroller General to develop recommendations for how the qual- ity and completeness of those data sources can be improved as data sources for the Fabric. (2) Sources included For the purposes of the assessment con- ducted under paragraph (1), the key data sources described in that paragraph shall in- clude— (A) any relevant sources of Federal data, including the National Address Database ad- ministered by the Department of Transpor- tation; (B) State- and county-level digitized parcel data; and (C) property tax attribute recording. (3) Report Not later than 1 year after March 23, 2020, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that contains the recommendations developed under paragraph (1). (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VIII, § 804, as added Pub. L. 116–130, § 2, Mar. 23, 2020, 134 Stat. 237; amended Pub. L. 117–58, div. F, title V, § 60503, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1244.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2021—Subsec. (b)(2)(B), (C). Pub. L. 117–58 added sub- par. (B) and struck out former subpars. (B) and (C) which read as follows: ‘‘(B) not later than 1 year after March 23, 2020, con- clude a process that tests the feasibility of partnering with Federal agencies that operate delivery fleet vehi- cles, including the United States Postal Service, to fa- cilitate the collection and submission of information described in that paragraph; and ‘‘(C) not later than 14 months after March 23, 2020, publish on the website of the Commission, and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans- portation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a re- port regarding the testing described in subparagraph (B), which shall include— ‘‘(i) a determination regarding whether the partner- ships with Federal agencies described in that sub- paragraph are able to facilitate the collection and submission of information described in paragraph (1); and ‘‘(ii) any steps that the Commission plans to take to facilitate the partnerships described in that sub- paragraph.’’ § 645. Cost (a) USF The Commission may not use funds from the universal service programs of the Commission established under section 254 of this title, and the regulations issued under that section, to pay for any costs associated with this subchapter. Page 352 TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS § 646 (b) Other funds The Commission may recover costs associated with this subchapter under section 159 of this title to the extent provided for in an appropria- tion Act, as required under subsection (a) of that section. (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VIII, § 805, as added Pub. L. 116–130, § 2, Mar. 23, 2020, 134 Stat. 238.) § 646. Other provisions (a) OMB Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the initial rule making required under section 642(a)(1) of this title shall be exempt from review by the Office of Management and Budget. (b) PRA Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44 (com- monly known as the ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act’’) shall not apply to any rule making or other action by the Commission required under this subchapter. (c) Execution of responsibilities Except, with respect to an entity that is not the Universal Service Administrative Company, as provided in section 642(a)(2)(B) of this title, section 642(b)(1)(A)(ii) of this title, and sub- sections (c), (d), and (e) of section 644 of this title, the Commission— (1) including the offices of the Commission, shall carry out the responsibilities assigned to the Commission under this subchapter; and (2) may not delegate any of the responsibil- ities assigned to the Commission under this subchapter to any third party, including the Universal Service Administrative Company. (d) Reporting Each fiscal year, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com- mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that summarizes the implementation of this subchapter and associ- ated enforcement activities conducted during the previous fiscal year. (e) Rule of construction If the Commission, before March 23, 2020, has taken an action that, in whole or in part, imple- ments this subchapter, the Commission shall not be required to revisit such action to the ex- tent that such action is consistent with this subchapter. (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VIII, § 806, as added Pub. L. 116–130, § 2, Mar. 23, 2020, 134 Stat. 238; amended Pub. L. 117–58, div. F, title I, § 60102(h)(2)(E)(ii), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1198.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2021—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–58 substituted ‘‘any rule making or other action by the Commission required under this subchapter’’ for ‘‘the initial rule making re- quired under section 642(a)(1) of this title’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries IMPLEMENTATION For requirement to implement amendment made by section 60102(h)(2)(E)(ii) of Pub. L. 117–58 as soon as pos- sible after Nov. 15, 2021, see section 1702(h)(2)(E)(iii) of this title. CHAPTER 6—COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SYSTEM SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 701. Omitted. 702. Definitions. 703. Repealed. SUBCHAPTER II—FEDERAL COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND REGULATION 721. Implementation of policy. SUBCHAPTER III—COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE CORPORATION 731 to 735. Omitted. SUBCHAPTER IV—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 741 to 744. Omitted. SUBCHAPTER V—INTERNATIONAL MARITIME SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS 751, 752. Omitted. 753. Implementation of policy. 754 to 756. Repealed. 757. Definitions. SUBCHAPTER VI—COMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION AND PRIVATIZATION PART A—ACTIONS TO ENSURE PRO-COMPETITIVE PRIVATIZATION 761. Federal Communications Commission licens- ing. 761a. Incentives; limitation on expansion pending privatization. PART B—FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION LICENSING CRITERIA: PRIVATIZATION CRITERIA 763. General criteria to ensure a pro-competitive privatization of INTELSAT and Inmarsat. 763a. Specific criteria for INTELSAT. 763b. Repealed. 763c. Space segment capacity of the GMDSS. 763d. Encouraging market access and privatization. PART C—DEREGULATION AND OTHER STATUTORY CHANGES 765. Access to INTELSAT. 765a. Signatory role. 765b. Elimination of procurement preferences. 765c. ITU functions. 765d. Termination of provisions of this chapter. 765e. Repealed. 765f. Satellite auctions. 765g. Exclusivity arrangements. PART D—NEGOTIATIONS TO PURSUE PRIVATIZATION 767. Methods to pursue privatization. PART E—DEFINITIONS 769. Definitions. SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS § 701. Omitted Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section, Pub. L. 87–624, title I, § 102, Aug. 31, 1962, 76 Stat. 419, which related to Congressional declaration of policy and purpose, ceased to be effective Apr. 15, 2005, pursuant to section 765d(4) of this title. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 2003 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 108–39, § 1, June 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 835, provided that: ‘‘This Act [amending section 763 of this title] may