Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (15 Mar 2021): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What this bill does
S. 745, the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, is a broad measure aimed at expanding access to and lowering the cost of high-speed broadband internet across the country. It would create digital equity grant programs for states and other entities, direct federal studies on broadband affordability and on gaps in access affecting groups such as low-income households, older adults, veterans, people with disabilities, rural residents, and racial or ethnic minorities, and authorize funding for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth. Additional provisions address broadband pricing transparency, expansion of broadband infrastructure (including in unserved and tribal areas), a financing program for broadband projects, Wi-Fi on school buses, rural healthcare broadband, internet exchange and submarine cable grants, and support for community and municipal broadband efforts.
The bill would affect a wide range of parties: individual consumers seeking affordable internet, states and tribal governments administering grant programs, broadband providers subject to new transparency and reporting requirements, schools, libraries, healthcare providers and other "anchor institutions," and federal agencies such as the FCC, NTIA, and USDA, which would take on new study, reporting, and program-administration duties.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on March 15, 2021, by Senator Amy Klobuchar with multiple cosponsors and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It did not receive a vote in the 117th Congress; according to the official summary, its provisions were later incorporated into other legislation rather than being enacted on their own.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026, revises, and establishes grants and activities to promote access to telecommunications services, including broadband internet.
The bill addresses digital equity and inclusion through grants and by requiring studies on barriers to adopting broadband services and related matters.
The bill addresses broadband affordability and access. It (1) reauthorizes and expands programs that subsidize or support broadband services for, among others, eligible households, schools, and minority communities; and (2) establishes a program for expanding broadband service for underserved areas and community support organizations (e.g., religious organizations). Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must expand programs that verify an individual's eligibility for subsidized telecommunications services.
The bill addresses matters concerning broadband data. The FCC must (1) issue rules for collecting pricing data and labels for disclosing information about broadband plans to consumers, and (2) collaborate and share data with federal agencies and stakeholders.
The bill makes financing (e.g., low-interest loans) available to communities and public-private partnerships for broadband infrastructure investments and creates grants to establish or expand certain internet exchange facilities and submarine cable landing stations. Additionally, the Department of Transportation must require states to install conduits for broadband cables as part of certain highway projects. The bill also sets up a task force on nationwide dig once requirements (i.e., policies or practices to minimize excavations of highway rights-of-way when installing telecommunications infrastructure).
Further, the bill preempts state laws that prohibit certain telecommunications service providers (e.g., public providers) from providing high-speed broadband services.
Timeline
15 Mar 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Common questions
- What does S. 745 do?
- S. 745, the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, is a broad measure aimed at expanding access to and lowering the cost of high-speed broadband internet across the country. It would create digital equity grant programs for states and other entities, direct federal studies on broadband affordability and on gaps in access affecting groups such as low-income households, older adults, veterans, people with disabilities, rural residents, and racial or ethnic minorities, and authorize funding for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth. Additional provisions address broadband pricing transparency, expansion of broadband infrastructure (including in unserved and tribal areas), a financing program for broadband projects, Wi-Fi on school buses, rural healthcare broadband, internet exchange and submarine cable grants, and support for community and municipal broadband efforts. The bill would affect a wide range of parties: individual consumers seeking affordable internet, states and tribal governments administering grant programs, broadband providers subject to new transparency and reporting requirements, schools, libraries, healthcare providers and other "anchor institutions," and federal agencies such as the FCC, NTIA, and USDA, which would take on new study, reporting, and program-administration duties. The bill was introduced in the Senate on March 15, 2021, by Senator Amy Klobuchar with multiple cosponsors and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It did not receive a vote in the 117th Congress; according to the official summary, its provisions were later incorporated into other legislation rather than being enacted on their own.
- Has S. 745 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 745. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 745?
- S. 745 was sponsored by Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), with 18 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 745?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (15 Mar 2021).
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