115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 645
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and analysis of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the economy of the United States, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act of 2018
.
Assessment and analysis regarding the effect of the digital economy on the economy of the United States
Definitions
In this section:
Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate;
the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate;
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives;
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.
Assistant Secretary
The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
Broadband
The term broadband means an Internet Protocol-based transmission service that enables users to send and receive voice, video, data, or graphics, or a combination of those items.
Digital economy
In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the term digital economy has the meaning given the term by the Secretary in carrying out this section.
Considerations
In establishing a definition for the term digital economy under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider—
the digital-enabling infrastructure that a computer network needs to exist and operate; and
the roles of e-commerce and digital media.
Digital media
The term digital media means the content that participants in e-commerce create and access.
E-commerce
The term e-commerce means the digital transactions that take place using the infrastructure described in paragraph (4)(B)(i).
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.
Biennial assessment and analysis required
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce and the Assistant Secretary, shall conduct an assessment and analysis regarding the contribution of the digital economy to the economy of the United States.
Considerations and consultation
In conducting each assessment and analysis required under subsection (b), the Secretary shall—
consider the impact of—
the deployment and adoption of—
digital-enabling infrastructure; and
broadband;
e-commerce and platform-enabled peer-to-peer commerce; and
the production and consumption of digital media, including free media; and
consult with—
the heads of any agencies and offices of the Federal Government as the Secretary considers appropriate, including the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission;
representatives of the business community, including rural and urban Internet service providers and telecommunications infrastructure providers;
representatives from State, local, and tribal government agencies; and
representatives from consumer and community organizations.
Report
The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report regarding the findings of the Secretary with respect to each assessment and analysis conducted under subsection (b).
Passed the Senate December 13, 2018.
Secretary