HR3125-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Broadband Assistance Act.

2. Public notice, assessments, technical assistance, and reporting requirements Section 701 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950cc) is amended— in the section heading, by inserting TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, before AND; and by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following: The Secretary shall make grants to private, nonprofit, or public organizations to provide or receive eligible entities broadband technical assistance and training to expand access to broadband service in rural communities through the broadband programs of the Department of Agriculture including— preparing applications for grants, loans and loan guarantees under this section; identifying resources to finance broadband facilities from public and private sources, including other Federal agencies; preparing feasibility studies, financial forecasts, market surveys, environmental studies, and technical design information to support broadband services; preparing reports and surveys necessary to support the need for broadband services, the price range, and request financial assistance; analyzing and improving operation related to the management, including financial management, of broadband facilities and to the efficiency of the entity; collecting broadband infrastructure data; or assisting with other areas of need identified by the Secretary. To be eligible to obtain assistance under this subsection, an entity shall be— a federally recognized Tribe or Tribal entity; a State or local government, including any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof; a territory or possession of the United States; an institution of higher education (including a 1862 Land-Grant Institution, 1890 Land-Grant Institution, 1994 Land-Grant Institution, Hispanic-Serving Institution, or Historically Black College or University); a nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; a cooperative or mutual organization; a corporation; or a limited liability company or limited liability partnership. In selecting recipients of grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to organizations that have experience in providing technical assistance and training to rural entities. The Secretary shall allow applications for grants under this paragraph from qualified organizations for the sole purpose of providing on-site community technical assistance and training on a national or multi-State regional basis. (e)Broadband technical assistance program(1)In generalThe Secretary shall make grants to private, nonprofit, or public organizations to provide or receive eligible entities broadband technical assistance and training to expand access to broadband service in rural communities through the broadband programs of the Department of Agriculture including—(A)preparing applications for grants, loans and loan guarantees under this section;(B)identifying resources to finance broadband facilities from public and private sources, including other Federal agencies;(C)preparing feasibility studies, financial forecasts, market surveys, environmental studies, and technical design information to support broadband services;(D)preparing reports and surveys necessary to support the need for broadband services, the price range, and request financial assistance;(E)analyzing and improving operation related to the management, including financial management, of broadband facilities and to the efficiency of the entity;(F)collecting broadband infrastructure data; or(G)assisting with other areas of need identified by the Secretary.(2)Eligible entitiesTo be eligible to obtain assistance under this subsection, an entity shall be—(A)a federally recognized Tribe or Tribal entity;(B)a State or local government, including any agency, subdivision, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof;(C)a territory or possession of the United States;(D)an institution of higher education (including a 1862 Land-Grant Institution, 1890 Land-Grant Institution, 1994 Land-Grant Institution, Hispanic-Serving Institution, or Historically Black College or University);(E)a nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;(F)a cooperative or mutual organization;(G)a corporation; or(H)a limited liability company or limited liability partnership.(3)Selection priorityIn selecting recipients of grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to organizations that have experience in providing technical assistance and training to rural entities.(4)National applicationsThe Secretary shall allow applications for grants under this paragraph from qualified organizations for the sole purpose of providing on-site community technical assistance and training on a national or multi-State regional basis..