Sec. 531. Tribal Broadband Fund
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/bill/117/s/5186/is/section-531·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Commission shall establish, as a permanent Federal universal service support mechanism under section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 254 ), a mechanism to be known as the Tribal Broadband Fund . The amount of Federal universal service support provided through the Tribal Broadband Fund shall be $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2023. For fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount specified in paragraph
(1)shall be adjusted so that the amount of Federal universal service support provided through the Tribal Broadband Fund for such subsequent fiscal year bears the same proportion to the amount of Federal universal service support provided through all Federal universal service support mechanisms other than the Tribal Broadband Fund for such subsequent fiscal year as the proportion that $1,000,000,000 bears to the amount of Federal universal service support provided through all Federal universal service support mechanisms other than the Tribal Broadband Fund for fiscal year 2023. The Commission shall use the Tribal Broadband Fund to provide Federal universal service support to Indian tribes, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and qualifying Tribal entities to provide— technical assistance, deployment of broadband infrastructure, maintenance, planning, training, and digital literacy programs to increase broadband services and network buildout on Tribal lands, in addition to further economic development initiatives for all spectrum on Tribal lands, including radio, television, broadcast, commercial, and noncommercial uses, and current generation or better broadband services; infrastructure for middle mile and long-haul fiber buildout, adoption of digital literacy, and other related resources to expedite the immediate deployment of, and full access to, telecommunications, broadband, spectrum use and future development, and wireless services (including broadband service); and other smart infrastructure development and integration on Tribal lands, and other related activities to ensure Tribal lands have full access to high-speed broadband services, telecommunications services, and other sovereignty of communications infrastructure covering Tribal lands. In allocating funds from the Tribal Broadband Fund, the Commission— shall prioritize locations where telecommunications or broadband services have left residents underserved; and may use funds in locations described in paragraph
(1)for last mile fiber, middle mile fiber, backhaul transit, interconnection, and other costs and repairs to damaged infrastructure. The Commission shall provide requested technical assistance, training programs, and grants to assist Indian tribes, qualifying Tribal entities, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, inter-Tribal government organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities for the purpose of immediate deployment of telecommunications or broadband services or infrastructure development over Tribal lands. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall release a final order adopting rules and policies associated with the establishment, implementation, and administration of the Tribal Broadband Fund. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or prevent an Indian tribe, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, or a qualifying Tribal entity from accessing existing or additional funding through the Commission or any other Federal agency.
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Sec. 531
Tribal Broadband Fund
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