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HR 3646 111th Congress House

Broadband Affordability Act of 2009

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a Lifeline Assistance Program for universal broadband adoption, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 19, 2009 Introduced by: Matsui, Doris O. Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCompetition and antitrustConsumer affairsLicensing and registrationsTelecommunication rates and fees
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 25, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.
Sep 24, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Sep 24, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 25, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Broadband Affordability Act of 2009 - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a broadband lifeline program enabling qualifying low-income customers residing in urban and rural areas to purchase broadband service at reduced charges by reimbursing providers for each such customer served.

Requires that the program: (1) be similar in structure to the Lifeline program for basic telephone service; and (2) promote competition from broadband service providers by using neutral technology.

Requires a broadband service provider that is not an eligible telecommunications carrier to obtain FCC authorization to participate in the program.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Democratic 6
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Dec 15, 2009
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Dec 9, 2009
 D
Chu, Judy
California · Dec 9, 2009
 D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Nov 19, 2009
CHRISTENSEN, DONNA
· Nov 2, 2009
 D
Castor, Kathy
Florida · Oct 28, 2009
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Sep 29, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3646: Broadband Affordability Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3646/
MLA
"H.R. 3646: Broadband Affordability Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3646/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3646, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3646/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3646: Broadband Affordability Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3646/)
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