Sec. 2. Grant program to provide high-speed broadband service
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/bill/116/hr/8040/ih/section-2A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall establish a program (in this Act referred to as the Program ) to facilitate the provision of high-speed broadband service to rural small business concerns. In carrying out the Program, the Administrator shall award a grant to each eligible State that submits an application. The Administrator shall award a grant under the Program each year to a State that submits an application pursuant to subsection (d).
An eligible State may award a subgrant under the Program to any entity, or group of entities, determined by the eligible State to have the authority and capability to carry out a project described in subsection (d). A determination of authority and capability under subparagraph
(A)may not require a subgrant recipient to be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier under section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 214(e) ). To be eligible for a grant under the Program, a State shall submit to the Administrator an application that demonstrates that the State— prior to the date of application for a grant under the Program, has experience managing a State or Federal grant program to facilitate the provision of high-speed broadband service; maintains a State broadband plan; has updated the State broadband plan under paragraph
(2)in the five years prior to the date a State submits an application for a grant under the Program; agrees to subgrant any awarded funds to an eligible subgrant recipient; agrees to conduct a periodic financial audit of eligible subgrant recipients who have received a subgrant under the Program; ensures proper disbursement and accounting for Federal funds awarded under the Program, including demonstrating that if awarded a subgrant under the Program— such award has been used to assist an eligible project; and that a State has recovered an award from a subgrant recipient who has not complied with the requirements of the Program; and possesses any other administrative or technical capacity that the Administrator deems necessary for the success of the Program. Grant funds awarded under the Program may only be used to assist a project that makes available eligible infrastructure necessary to provide high-speed broadband service to a rural small business concern. Grant funds awarded under the Program may not be used to assist a project that makes available duplicative eligible infrastructure to a small business concern located in a rural area. An eligible State shall determine the presence of duplicative eligible infrastructure using broadband infrastructure geolocation data from Federal, State, or commercial sources. An eligible State shall make available to the public the location of proposed eligible infrastructure for which a subgrant application has been submitted to the eligible State. Not later than 15 days prior to the award of a subgrant, an eligible State shall allow a provider of eligible infrastructure the opportunity to submit information regarding the location of such infrastructure so that the eligible State may determine whether a project to be awarded a subgrant will make available duplicative eligible infrastructure. In making a grant under the Program, the Administrator shall give priority to an eligible project based on the number of small business concerns located in a rural area provided high-speed broadband service by the project. In making a grant under the Program, the Administrator shall award an eligible State the amount equaling the ratio of the number of individuals in the eligible State who reside in a rural area divided by the number of individuals who reside in a rural area in all eligible States that have been approved under the Program, multiplied by the total amount of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (k)(2). The amount of a subgrant under the Program— if awarded to an entity providing high-speed broadband service to a single small business concern, may not exceed $15,000; or if awarded to an entity providing high-speed broadband service to more than one small business concern, may not exceed $35,000. The Federal share of the cost of a project assisted with a grant under the Program shall not exceed 75 percent. Not later than 30 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, each eligible State shall submit to the Administrator a report demonstrating the information required pursuant to subsection (d)(6). Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the Program that includes a description of— the number of grants awarded under the Program; the total amount of funding expended on eligible infrastructure pursuant to the Program; the number of small business concerns in rural areas provided eligible infrastructure as a result of the Program during the two-year period beginning on the date on which the Administrator first awards a grant under the Program; and the number of miles of eligible infrastructure made available pursuant to the Program. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023. Not less than 97 percent of funds appropriated for the Program shall be reserved for providing grants to eligible States. Not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated for the Program may be used by the Administrator to administer the Program.
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Sec. 2
Grant program to provide high-speed broadband service
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