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Comprehensive Rural Telecommunications Act

Introduced: July 27, 2000 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 8, 2000
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Aug 4, 2000
Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation and Credit.
Aug 4, 2000
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Jul 27, 2000
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, 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.
Jul 27, 2000
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1388)
Jul 27, 2000
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Comprehensive Rural Telecommunications Act - Title I: Rural Telework - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Rural Utility Service, to establish a National Centers for Distance Working Program to provide grants to eligible organizations for the Federal share of establishing National Centers for Distance Working in rural areas.

Directs a recipient Center to use grants for five-year projects to: (1) identify needed skills and provide training and employment-related services to persons in rural areas and Indian tribes to support the use of teleworking (the use of telecommunications to perform work functions over a distance) in technology fields; and (2) recruit employers and provide for high-speed employer-employee communications.

Authorizes the Secretary to make limited grants for teleworking studies, including development of best practices for businesses that employ teleworkers.

Authorizes appropriations.

Title II: Rural Telecommunications Modernization - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the rural telecommunications facilities investment tax credit.

Title III: Rural Broadband Enhancement - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to initiate a proceeding to provide Federal universal service support for the deployment of broadband telecommunications service (high speed voice, data, graphic, and video telecommunications) to eligible rural communities (communities not located in an area designated as a metropolitan area by the Office of Management and Budget).

Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administrative Organization Act to direct the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture to make loans or other credit extensions to eligible telecommunications carrier providers, or to companies that accept the obligations of such carriers, to finance the deployment of broadband service to eligible rural communities.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2005.

What's happening now August 8, 2000

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 4