H.R. 2805
PLAN for Broadband Act
Sponsor: Tim Walberg · 3 cosponsors
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Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Proper Leadership to Align Networks for Broadband Act or the PLAN for Broadband Act
This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop and implement a national strategy to improve the coordination and management of federal broadband programs to meet the goal of providing high-speed, affordable broadband internet access services to all individuals in the United States. The strategy must also address barriers, costs, and administrative burdens for state, local, and tribal governments participating in these programs.
The NTIA must also develop and publish for public comment a plan for the implementation of the national strategy. Among other requirements, the implementation plan must (1) describe the roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies and interagency mechanisms, and (2) provide a plan for holding agencies accountable for objectives identified in the strategy.
The NTIA must submit the strategy and implementation plan to Congress and must periodically brief Congress on implementation progress.
Finally, the Government Accountability Office must submit a report to Congress that assesses the efficacy of the strategy and implementation plan and makes recommendations for improving them.
Text of the bill
(a) Briefing. Not later than 21 days after the date on which the Assistant Secretary submits the Implementation Plan to the appropriate committees of Congress under section 3(a), the Assistant Secretary, and appropriate representatives from the covered agencies involved in the formulation of the Strategy, shall provide a briefing on the implementation of the Strategy to the appropriate committees of Congress.
(b) Implementation
(1) In general. The Assistant Secretary shall—
(A) implement the Strategy in accordance with the terms of the Implementation Plan; and
(B) not later than 90 days after the date on which the Assistant Secretary begins to implement the Strategy, and not less frequently than once every 90 days thereafter until the date on which the Implementation Plan is fully implemented, brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the progress in implementing the Implementation Plan.
(2) Rule of construction. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to affect the authority or jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission or confer upon the Assistant Secretary or any executive agency the power to direct the actions of the Federal Communications Commission, either directly or indirectly.