H.R. 8576

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8576 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8576

To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program 
to make grants available to States to inform individuals of potential 
eligibility for the Lifeline program of the Commission, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 29, 2026

Ms. Kelly of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program 
to make grants available to States to inform individuals of potential 
eligibility for the Lifeline program of the Commission, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. LIFELINE ENROLLMENT OUTREACH GRANTS.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
Communications Commission.
(2) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
means an individual who--
(A) is an eligible-but-not-enrolled individual; or
(B) has the potential to be a qualifying low-income 
consumer under 54.409 of title 47, Code of Federal 
Regulations, or any successor regulation, due to the 
eligibility of the individual, a dependent of the 
individual, or the household of the individual to 
receive benefits from or participate in, as applicable, 
a program described in such section 54.409.
(3) Eligible-but-not-enrolled individual.--The term 
``eligible-but-not-enrolled individual'' means an individual 
who is a qualifying low-income consumer under section 54.409 of 
title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
regulation, but is not enrolled in the Lifeline program.
(4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 4 of the 
Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act 
of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).
(5) Lifeline program.--The term ``Lifeline program'' means 
the program set forth in subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code 
of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(6) Reach.--The term ``reach'' means, with respect to an 
individual, to inform the individual of potential eligibility 
for the Lifeline program and to provide the individual with 
information about the Lifeline program, as described in 
subsection (e).
(7) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the 
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, 
territory, or possession of the United States, and each Indian 
Tribe.
(b) Establishment.--The Commission shall establish a competitive 
program to make grants available to States to inform covered 
individuals of potential eligibility for the Lifeline program.
(c) Application.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may only award a grant 
under this section to a State that submits an application at 
such time, in such form, and with such information and 
assurances as the Commission may require.
(2) Matters required to be included.--An application 
submitted by a State under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) the number of covered individuals in the State;
(B) a plan for the activities that the State will 
conduct using grant funds, including a list of each 
agency within the State that will assist in carrying 
out those activities; and
(C) an estimate of the percentage of eligible-but-
not-enrolled individuals in the State who will be 
reached by those activities.
(d) Selection.--
(1) Minimum number of states.--The Commission shall award 
grants under this section to not fewer than 25 percent of the 
States that submit an application under subsection (c).
(2) Factors for consideration.--In awarding grants under 
this section, the Commission shall give favorable consideration 
to--
(A) States that have higher numbers of covered 
individuals; and
(B) States proposing, in the plans submitted under 
subsection (c)(2)(B), to conduct activities that have 
the potential to reach higher percentages of eligible-
but-not-enrolled individuals in those States, as 
determined by the Commission, taking into consideration 
the estimates submitted under subsection (c)(2)(C).
(3) Geographic diversity.--In awarding grants under this 
section, the Commission shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable, select States from different geographic regions of 
the United States.
(e) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this 
section shall use grant funds, in accordance with the plan 
included in the application of the State under subsection 
(c)(2)(B), to--
(A) inform covered individuals and organizations or 
agencies that serve covered individuals, as the case 
may be under the terms of the grant awarded to the 
State, of potential eligibility for the Lifeline 
program;
(B) provide covered individuals with information 
about the Lifeline program, including--
(i) how to apply for the Lifeline program; 
and
(ii) a description of the prohibition on 
more than 1 subscriber in each household 
receiving a service provided under the Lifeline 
program; and
(C) partner with nonprofit and community-based 
organizations that have a proven track record of 
working with covered individuals in implementing 
digital inclusion initiatives to provide covered 
individuals with--
(i) assistance applying for the Lifeline 
program; and
(ii) information about product and 
technology choices.
(2) Multiple state agencies.--A State that receives a grant 
under this section may provide grant funds to 1 or more 
agencies located within the State, as identified under 
subsection (c)(2)(B), to carry out the activities under the 
grant.
(f) Outreach to States Regarding Grant Program.--Before accepting 
applications for the grant program established under this section, the 
Commission shall conduct outreach to States to ensure that States are 
aware of the grant program and how to apply for a grant under the grant 
program.
(g) Regulations Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations to 
implement this section.
(h) Enforcement.--
(1) In general.--A violation of this section or a 
regulation promulgated under this section shall be treated as a 
violation of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et 
seq.) or a regulation promulgated under that Act.
(2) Manner of enforcement.--The Commission shall enforce 
this section and the regulations promulgated under this section 
in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same 
jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms 
and provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 
et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this 
section.
(i) Exemptions.--
(1) Certain rulemaking requirements.--Section 553 of title 
5, United States Code, shall not apply to a regulation 
promulgated under this section or a rulemaking proceeding to 
promulgate such a regulation.
(2) Paperwork reduction act requirements.--A collection of 
information conducted or sponsored under the regulations 
required under this section shall not constitute a collection 
of information for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 35 
of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the 
``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
(j) Report to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after establishing 
the grant program under this section, the Commission shall 
submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the 
grant program.
(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
shall include--
(A) the number of individuals notified of Lifeline 
program eligibility by States receiving grants under 
this section;
(B) the number of new applicants to the Lifeline 
program from States receiving grants under this 
section, including the number of those applicants who 
enrolled in the Lifeline program; and
(C) the cost-effectiveness of the grant program 
established under this section.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out this section for the first 5 full fiscal years beginning after the 
establishment of the grant program under this section.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO STATES TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL LIFELINE ELIGIBILITY 
VERIFIER.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
Communications Commission.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
State that, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, submits to the Commission an application for a 
grant under this section containing such information as the 
Commission may require.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the 
United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, 
territory, or possession of the United States, and each 
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall establish a program to 
provide a grant, from amounts appropriated under subsection (e), to 
each eligible entity for the purpose described in subsection (c).
(c) Purpose.--The Commission shall make a grant to each eligible 
entity for the purpose of establishing, renewing, reestablishing, or 
maintaining or amending a connection between the databases of the 
eligible entity that contain information concerning the receipt by a 
household, or a member of a household, of benefits under a program 
administered by the eligible entity (including any benefit provided 
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.)) and the National 
Lifeline Eligibility Verifier so that the receipt by a household, or a 
member of a household, of benefits under the benefits program--
(1) is reflected in the National Lifeline Eligibility 
Verifier; and
(2) can be used to verify eligibility for the Lifeline 
program set forth in subpart E, part 54, of title 47, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(d) Disbursement of Grant Funds.--Not later than 120 days after the 
date on which the Commission establishes the program under subsection 
(b), funds provided under each grant made under that subsection shall 
be disbursed to the eligible entity receiving the grant.
(e) Authorization of Appropriation.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
<all>