The Capitol serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. It is located in Washington, D.C., on top of Capitol Hill at the east end of the National Mall. The building is marked by its central dome above a rotunda and two wings for the bicameral legislature. It is an exemplar of the Neoclassical architecture style.

The western front of the United States Capitol. Source: Wikimedia Commons User:Noclip

AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009

Broadband Provisions in the Act

Under the Act, $7.4 billion is available from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (grants) and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service (grants and loans) to:

deploy broadband networks in unserved, underserved, and rural areas,

encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services through joint projects with community anchor institutions, and

expand public computer center capacity to serve vulnerable groups.

The text of the provisions pertaining to the Broadband Simulus in the Recovery Act, along with the legislative history as contained in the Senate and House Committee Reports are provided below. This material can be referred to in designing a suitable project and preparing a grant application.

Federal Agencies Administering Broadband Programs

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U. S. Department of Commerce

Rural Utilities Service (RUS), U. S. Department of Agriculture

Legislative History

Introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 1 by Dave Obey on January 26, 2009

Committee consideration by: House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on the Budget

Passed the House of Representatives on January 28, 2009 (244-188)

Passed the Senate on February 10, 2009 (61-37)

Reported by the joint conference committee on February 12, 2009; agreed to by the House of Representatives on February 13, 2009 (246-183) and by the Senate on February 13, 2009 (60-38)

Signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009

Records

On the linked pages, you will find excerpts from the House and Senate Reports and Bill Summary that apply to the broadband programs that have been funded for the National Telecommunications & Information Administration and the Rural Utilities Service.

House Report 111-016
Conference Agreement and Joint Explanatory Statement

Senate Report 111-003
Committee on Appropriations Report and Recommendation

Bill Summary (NTIA only)