HB 25-03: CHONKYFIRE Act (Passed)

[Elcaspar]

AN ACT
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify the eligibility of broadband internet access services for Federal universal service support, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

Section I. Title

The long title of this Act shall be the "Considering How Online Networks are Key, Yield Funding to Internet Redevelopment and Expansion Act." It may be abbreviated to and cited as the "CHONKYFIRE Act."

Section II. Universal Service Support for Broadband Internet Access Services

(a) Clarification Of Eligibility For Support.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 254(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4) BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES.—In addition to the services included in the definition of universal service under paragraph (1), the Commission shall designate broadband internet access services as services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms. In designating services under this paragraph, the Commission shall ensure that the services designated are sufficient for the purposes for which consumers use broadband internet access services, as such purposes evolve over time.

(2) OBLIGATIONS OF ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS.—Section 214(e)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting “all of” after “offer”.
(b) Contributions To Universal Service.—
(1) PROVIDERS OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended—
(A) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting “and all providers of broadband internet access services” after “telecommunications services”; and
(B) in subsection (d)—
(i) in the heading, by striking “Telecommunications Carrier”;
(ii) in the first sentence, by inserting “and every provider of broadband internet access services” after “telecommunications services”; and
(iii) in the second sentence—
(I) by inserting “, or provider or class of providers,” after “carriers”; and
(II) by inserting “or provider’s” after “carrier’s” each place it appears.
(2) ADDITIONAL MATTERS RELATING TO UNIVERSAL SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS.—Section 254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(d)) is amended—
(A) by striking “Every telecommunications carrier” and inserting the following:

(1) IN GENERAL.—Every telecommunications carrier”

(B) It is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(2) EXCLUSION FROM CONTRIBUTION BASE OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO LIFELINE CONSUMERS.—In determining the amount that a telecommunications carrier or provider of a broadband internet access service is required to contribute under this subsection, the Commission shall exclude from the determination any services provided by such carrier or provider to consumers who receive services through the Lifeline program of the Commission.
(3) CONSIDERATION OF ANTICIPATED FUNDING NEEDS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—In determining the amount of contributions required under this subsection, the Commission shall consider forecasts of anticipated demand for services that are supported by each of the Federal universal service support mechanisms over periods that are sufficiently long to allow for adequate planning, thereby ensuring sufficient and predictable funding for each such mechanism.
(B) PROHIBITION ON CONTRIBUTION LIMIT.—The Commission may not establish any limit on the total amount of contributions required under this subsection with respect to all Federal universal service support mechanisms, except for establishing the amount that providers are required to contribute with respect to a particular time period based on the projected demand for services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms over such time period.

(c) Access In Tribal Areas.—Section 254(b)(3) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(b)(3)) is amended—
(1) in the heading, by striking “ACCESS IN RURAL AND HIGH COST AREAS” and inserting “ACCESS IN ALL REGIONS”; and
(2) by inserting “Tribal,” after “insular,”.
(d) Prohibition On Expenditure Limit.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(m) Prohibition On Expenditure Limit.—The Commission may not establish any limit on the total amount of funds that may be expended through all Federal universal service support mechanisms. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to prohibit the Commission from ensuring that funds expended through the Federal universal service support mechanisms are expended for services eligible for support through such mechanisms.

(e) Consultation Among FCC, NTIA, And USDA.—The Federal Communications Commission, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and the Department of Agriculture shall, in administering Federal financial assistance for the deployment of broadband services, consult with one another regarding the distribution of such assistance for the deployment of broadband services in rural areas.
(f) Reporting Requirements.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsection (d), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(n) Reporting Requirements.—Not later than 180 days after the end of each calendar year, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report that contains the following:
(1) A statement of the total amount expended in such year to support broadband internet access services through the Federal universal service support mechanisms for high-cost areas.
(2) A statement of the amount, of the total amount stated under paragraph (1), expended in each of the following:
(A) Rural areas.
(B) Insular areas.
(C) Tribal areas.
(D) Areas that, as of the beginning of such year, were unserved areas, as determined by the Commission.
(3) A description of progress during such year in advancing the universal service principles described in subsection (b) and the requirements for meeting future growth in the demand for the services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms, including challenges that may prevent the advancement of such principles.”

(g) Broadband Internet Access Service Defined.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsections (d) and (f), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(o) Broadband Internet Access Service Defined.—In this section, the term ‘broadband internet access service’—
(1) means a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service, but excluding dial-up internet access service; and
(2) includes any service that the Commission finds to be providing a functional equivalent of the service described in paragraph (1).

Sponsor: Ted Bessell
House Designation: HB 25-03

72 hours to debate the bill.

[Mike Thick]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This bill is probably pretty hard to parse, so I'll just summarize it here: it's a near-verbatim copy of an IRL House Democrat proposal for universal broadband. It would expand the contribution base for the FCC's Universal Service Fund to include broadband providers, and reform contribution caps, which will provide new funding to expand broadband coverage to all Atlasians without overburdening existing contributors.

This is a serious issue. In 2017, 30% of rural Americans and 21% of farms lacked broadband internet access -- these shortages are especially acute in tribal areas. Since the pandemic hit, online communication has become even more critical to schooling and the workplace, and many of our citizens won't be able to keep up without these changes. We can't wait any longer to extend quality internet coverage to all Atlasians. I yield the floor.

[Fmr. Representative Encke]

Will read through this more closely, but am broadly supportive of this bill's goals.

[Elcaspar]

Universal broadband is an admirable goal so i am supportive of this bill. Does anyone else have anything else to comment on this bill? Or should move on to final voting?

[Mike Thick]

Since nobody seems to have further comments, I motion for a final vote.

[Joseph Cao]

No objections.

[Elcaspar]

A final vote on the bill shall now be held.

You have 72 hours to vote.

[SevenEleven]

Aye

[Fmr. Representative Encke]

Aye

[Mike Thick]

Aye!

[Gracile]

Aye

[Joseph Cao]

Aye.

[Elcaspar]

Aye

[RC (a la Frémont)]

Aye

[Boobs]

Aye

[Elcaspar]

Voting period is now closed.

Ayes: 8 (Sev, Encke, Ted Bessell, Gracile, Joseph Cao, Elcaspar, ReaganClinton, HCP)
Nays: 0
Abstentions: 0
Not Voting: 1 (razze)

The bill has been passed

[Elcaspar]

AN ACT
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify the eligibility of broadband internet access services for Federal universal service support, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

Section I. Title

The long title of this Act shall be the "Considering How Online Networks are Key, Yield Funding to Internet Redevelopment and Expansion Act." It may be abbreviated to and cited as the "CHONKYFIRE Act."

Section II. Universal Service Support for Broadband Internet Access Services

(a) Clarification Of Eligibility For Support.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 254(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4) BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES.—In addition to the services included in the definition of universal service under paragraph (1), the Commission shall designate broadband internet access services as services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms. In designating services under this paragraph, the Commission shall ensure that the services designated are sufficient for the purposes for which consumers use broadband internet access services, as such purposes evolve over time.

(2) OBLIGATIONS OF ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS.—Section 214(e)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting “all of” after “offer”.
(b) Contributions To Universal Service.—
(1) PROVIDERS OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended—
(A) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting “and all providers of broadband internet access services” after “telecommunications services”; and
(B) in subsection (d)—
(i) in the heading, by striking “Telecommunications Carrier”;
(ii) in the first sentence, by inserting “and every provider of broadband internet access services” after “telecommunications services”; and
(iii) in the second sentence—
(I) by inserting “, or provider or class of providers,” after “carriers”; and
(II) by inserting “or provider’s” after “carrier’s” each place it appears.
(2) ADDITIONAL MATTERS RELATING TO UNIVERSAL SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS.—Section 254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(d)) is amended—
(A) by striking “Every telecommunications carrier” and inserting the following:

(1) IN GENERAL.—Every telecommunications carrier”

(B) It is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(2) EXCLUSION FROM CONTRIBUTION BASE OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO LIFELINE CONSUMERS.—In determining the amount that a telecommunications carrier or provider of a broadband internet access service is required to contribute under this subsection, the Commission shall exclude from the determination any services provided by such carrier or provider to consumers who receive services through the Lifeline program of the Commission.
(3) CONSIDERATION OF ANTICIPATED FUNDING NEEDS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—In determining the amount of contributions required under this subsection, the Commission shall consider forecasts of anticipated demand for services that are supported by each of the Federal universal service support mechanisms over periods that are sufficiently long to allow for adequate planning, thereby ensuring sufficient and predictable funding for each such mechanism.
(B) PROHIBITION ON CONTRIBUTION LIMIT.—The Commission may not establish any limit on the total amount of contributions required under this subsection with respect to all Federal universal service support mechanisms, except for establishing the amount that providers are required to contribute with respect to a particular time period based on the projected demand for services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms over such time period.

(c) Access In Tribal Areas.—Section 254(b)(3) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(b)(3)) is amended—
(1) in the heading, by striking “ACCESS IN RURAL AND HIGH COST AREAS” and inserting “ACCESS IN ALL REGIONS”; and
(2) by inserting “Tribal,” after “insular,”.
(d) Prohibition On Expenditure Limit.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(m) Prohibition On Expenditure Limit.—The Commission may not establish any limit on the total amount of funds that may be expended through all Federal universal service support mechanisms. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to prohibit the Commission from ensuring that funds expended through the Federal universal service support mechanisms are expended for services eligible for support through such mechanisms.

(e) Consultation Among FCC, NTIA, And USDA.—The Federal Communications Commission, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and the Department of Agriculture shall, in administering Federal financial assistance for the deployment of broadband services, consult with one another regarding the distribution of such assistance for the deployment of broadband services in rural areas.
(f) Reporting Requirements.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsection (d), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(n) Reporting Requirements.—Not later than 180 days after the end of each calendar year, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report that contains the following:
(1) A statement of the total amount expended in such year to support broadband internet access services through the Federal universal service support mechanisms for high-cost areas.
(2) A statement of the amount, of the total amount stated under paragraph (1), expended in each of the following:
(A) Rural areas.
(B) Insular areas.
(C) Tribal areas.
(D) Areas that, as of the beginning of such year, were unserved areas, as determined by the Commission.
(3) A description of progress during such year in advancing the universal service principles described in subsection (b) and the requirements for meeting future growth in the demand for the services that are supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms, including challenges that may prevent the advancement of such principles.”

(g) Broadband Internet Access Service Defined.—Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by subsections (d) and (f), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(o) Broadband Internet Access Service Defined.—In this section, the term ‘broadband internet access service’—
(1) means a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service, but excluding dial-up internet access service; and
(2) includes any service that the Commission finds to be providing a functional equivalent of the service described in paragraph (1).

House of Representatives:
Passed the House of Representatives 8-0-0-1

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Aye