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This bill — known as the ACCESS BROADBAND Act — would require the Dept. of Commerce to establish an Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This office would serve as a single point of contact to streamline management of federal broadband resources across multiple agencies, creating a simpler process for small businesses and local economic developers to access information and funds for broadband deployment projects in underserved rural areas.

This office would:

Connect with communities that need access to high-speed internet and improved digital inclusion efforts;
Hold regional workshops to share best practices and effective strategies for promoting broadband access and adoption;
Develop targeted broadband training and presentations for various demographic communities through media;
Develop and distribute publications providing guidance to communities for expanding broadband access and adoption; and
Track construction and use of any broadband infrastructure built using federal support.

On an annual basis, the office would report on its work and:

The number of U.S. residents who received broadband as a result of federal broadband programs and the Universal Service Fund program
An estimate of broadband deployment efforts’ economic impacts on local economies.

Additionally, the office would consult with any agency offering a federal broadband support program in order to streamline the application process and create one application that may be submitted to apply for all federal broadband support programs.

The bill’s full title is the Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Services, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand (ACCESS BROADBAND) Act.

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Should an Office Coordinate Federal Broadband Resources for Rural Areas?