---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 1725"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "1725"
heading: "Policy research, data collection, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/1725"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — Broadband Access"
  - "Subchapter II — Digital Equity Act of 2021"
---

# §1725. Policy research, data collection, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination

- (a) **Reporting requirements—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after the date on which the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) begins awarding grants under [section 1723(d)(1) of this title](/usc/47/1723.md?p=d-1), and annually thereafter, the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) shall—
    - (A) submit to the [appropriate committees of Congress](/usc/47/1721.md?p=4) a report that documents, for the year covered by the report—
      - (i) the findings of each evaluation conducted under [subparagraph (B)](#a-1-B);
      - (ii) a list of each grant awarded under each covered program, which shall include—
        - (I) the amount of each such grant;
        - (II) the recipient of each such grant; and
        - (III) the purpose for which each such grant was awarded;
      - (iii) any deobligation, termination, or modification of a grant awarded under the [covered programs](/usc/47/1721.md?p=9), which shall include a description of the subsequent usage of any funds to which such an action applies; and
      - (iv) each challenge made by an applicant for, or a recipient of, a grant under the [covered programs](/usc/47/1721.md?p=9) and the outcome of each such challenge; and
    - (B) conduct evaluations of the activities carried out under the [covered programs](/usc/47/1721.md?p=9), which shall include an evaluation of—
      - (i) whether [eligible States](/usc/47/1721.md?p=14) to which grants are awarded under the program established under [section 1723 of this title](/usc/47/1723.md) are—
        - (I) abiding by the assurances made by those [States](/usc/47/1721.md?p=21) under [subsection (e)](#e) of that section;
        - (II) meeting, or have met, the stated goals of the [Digital Equity](/usc/47/1721.md?p=10) Plans developed by the [States](/usc/47/1721.md?p=21) under [subsection (c)](#c) of that section;
        - (III) satisfying the requirements imposed by the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) on those [States](/usc/47/1721.md?p=21) under subsection (g) of that section; and
        - (IV) in compliance with any other rules, requirements, or regulations promulgated by the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) in implementing that program; and
      - (ii) whether entities to which grants are awarded under the program established under [section 1724 of this title](/usc/47/1724.md) are—
        - (I) abiding by the assurances made by those entities under subsection (f) of that section;
        - (II) meeting, or have met, the stated goals of those entities with respect to the use of the grant amounts;
        - (III) satisfying the requirements imposed by the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) on those [States](/usc/47/1721.md?p=21) under subsection (h) of that section; and
        - (IV) in compliance with any other rules, requirements, or regulations promulgated by the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) in implementing that program.
  - (2) **Public availability—** The [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) shall make each report submitted under [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A) publicly available in an online format that—
    - (A) facilitates access and ease of use;
    - (B) is searchable; and
    - (C) is accessible—
      - (i) to individuals with [disabilities](/usc/47/1721.md?p=13); and
      - (ii) in languages other than English.
- (b) **Authority to contract and enter into other arrangements—** The [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) may award grants and enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and other arrangements with Federal agencies, public and private organizations, and other entities with expertise that the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) determines appropriate in order to—
  - (1) evaluate the impact and efficacy of activities supported by grants awarded under the [covered programs](/usc/47/1721.md?p=9); and
  - (2) develop, catalog, disseminate, and promote the exchange of best practices, both with respect to and independent of the [covered programs](/usc/47/1721.md?p=9), in order to achieve [digital equity](/usc/47/1721.md?p=10).
- (c) **Consultation and public engagement—** In carrying out [subsection (a)](#a), and to further the objectives described in paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) and [(2)](#b-2) of subsection (b), the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) shall conduct ongoing collaboration and consult with—
  - (1) the Secretary of Agriculture;
  - (2) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
  - (3) the Secretary of Education;
  - (4) the Secretary of Labor;
  - (5) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
  - (6) the Secretary of [Veterans](/usc/47/1721.md?p=22) Affairs;
  - (7) the Secretary of the Interior;
  - (8) the Federal Communications Commission;
  - (9) the Federal Trade Commission;
  - (10) the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services;
  - (11) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;
  - (12) the Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission;
  - (13) [State](/usc/47/1721.md?p=21) agencies and governors of [States](/usc/47/1721.md?p=21) (or equivalent officials);
  - (14) entities serving as administering entities for [States](/usc/47/1721.md?p=21) under [section 1723(b) of this title](/usc/47/1723.md?p=b);
  - (15) national, [State](/usc/47/1721.md?p=21), tribal, and local organizations that provide [digital inclusion](/usc/47/1721.md?p=11), [digital equity](/usc/47/1721.md?p=10), or [digital literacy](/usc/47/1721.md?p=12) services;
  - (16) researchers, academics, and philanthropic organizations; and
  - (17) other agencies, organizations (including international organizations), entities (including entities with expertise in the fields of data collection, analysis and modeling, and evaluation), and community stakeholders, as determined appropriate by the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5).
- (d) **Technical support and assistance—** The [Assistant Secretary](/usc/47/1721.md?p=5) shall provide technical support and assistance, assistance to entities to prepare the applications of those entities with respect to grants awarded under the [covered programs](/usc/47/1721.md?p=9), and other resources, to the extent practicable, to ensure consistency in data reporting and to meet the objectives of this section.
- (e) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section, which shall remain available until expended.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–58, div. F, title III, § 60306, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1228.)