1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Connect America Act of 2019 . 2. Expansion of broadband access Title I of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 14. Expansion of broadband access (a) Program established Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary, shall establish a program to expand access to broadband for unserved areas, underserved areas, and unserved anchor institutions in accordance with the requirements of this section that— (1) is separate from any universal service program established pursuant to section 254; and (2) does not require funding recipients to be designated as eligible telecommunications carriers under section 214(e). (b) Use of program funds (1) Expanding access to broadband through national reverse auction Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall award 75 percent of the amounts appropriated under subsection (h) through a national reverse auction to funding recipients only to expand access to broadband in unserved areas. (2) Expanding access to broadband through States (A) Distribution of funds to States Not later than 255 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall distribute 25 percent of the amounts appropriated under subsection (h) among the States, in direct proportion to the population of each State. (B) Public notice Not later than 195 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue a public notice informing each State and the public of the amounts to be distributed under this paragraph. The notice shall include— (i) the manner in which a State shall inform the Commission of that State’s acceptance or acceptance in part of the amounts to be distributed under this paragraph