US Congress House Bill 3152 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: Introduced on July 22 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-08-06 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
Pending: House Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Rural Broadband Initiative Act This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and and an Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives appointed by the President to head the Office. The Under Secretary is responsible for administering all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service and must: conduct nationwide outreach to rural areas; foster the development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision; plan coordination of federal resources for state, regional, and local governments to assist rural areas; assess all relevant technologies; serve as a single information source for and coordinate all federal rural broadband programs and services; and provide technical assistance to state, regional, and local governments. The Under Secretary must also: submit to the President and Congress a comprehensive rural broadband strategy; submit to Congress a plan to establish a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel; establish a web-based clearinghouse that describes options, opportunities, resources, successful public-private partnerships, funding sources, and technology tutorials; and revise the rules and qualification criteria for the loan and loan guarantee programs. USDA must report to Congress on the resources and staff necessary to carry out this bill, and the Government Accountability Office must review the report.

Rural Broadband Initiative Act

Rep. Richard Nolan [D-MN]

Rep. Jared Huffman [D-CA]

Rep. Mark Pocan [D-WI]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-08-06	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
2015-07-24	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
2015-07-22	House	Referred to House Energy and Commerce
2015-07-22	House	Referred to House Agriculture
2015-07-22	House	Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2015-07-22	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3152/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr3152/BILLS-114hr3152ih.pdf