S. 3565 — SUCCESS for BEAD Act

This section states congressional findings that (1) remaining grant funds under the Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program (47 U.S.C. 1702) after final proposal approval should enhance and sustain approved broadband deployment projects; (2) strengthening U.S. telecommunications infrastructure—including high-capacity fiber, network interconnection, and workforce development—is essential for deploying artificial intelligence technologies and maintaining U.S. leadership in emerging technologies; (3) federal broadband investments to modernize and harden networks, including 9-1-1 networks, are vital for public safety and national security; and (4) heavy investments by the People's Republic of China in artificial intelligence, advanced network infrastructure, and workforce training present a geopolitical and technological challenge to U.S. leadership.

This section amends the definitions applicable to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program (47 U.S.C. 1702(a)(2)) by adding terms related to public safety and artificial intelligence, including “9–1–1 request for emergency assistance” (i.e., any communication sent to request emergency assistance); “artificial intelligence” (as defined in 15 U.S.C. 9401); “commonly accepted standards” (i.e., consensus-based technical standards for interoperability); “emergency communications center” (i.e., a facility or public safety answering point that processes 9–1–1 requests and dispatches responders); “interoperability” (i.e., capability to exchange 9–1–1 data across centers and providers without proprietary interfaces); “internet exchange point” (i.e., neutral infrastructure for direct network interconnections, including for AI systems); and “Next Generation 9–1–1” (i.e., IP-based system for secure, interoperable handling of all 9–1–1 request types). (The BEAD program provides grants to states for broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas.) It also makes technical changes to the subgrant reallocation process in subsection (c)(5)(C); replaces “approvals” with “approves” in subsection (e)(4)(A)(i); and strikes paragraphs (3) through (6) of subsection (f).