EFFECTS OF DEREGULATION ON RURAL AMERICA.

SEC. 309. EFFECTS OF DEREGULATION ON RURAL AMERICA. (a) Study.— The Office of Technology Assessment shall conduct a study of the effects of deregulation on the economic vitality of rural areas. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, a thorough analysis of the impact of deregulation on— (1) the number of loans made by financial institutions to small businesses located in rural areas, a change in the level of security interests required for such loans, and the cost of such loans to rural small businesses for creation and expansion; (2) airline service in cities and towns with populations of 100,000 or less, including airline fare, the number of flights available, number of seats available, scheduling of flights, continuity of service, number of markets being served by large and small airlines, availability of nonstop service, availability of direct service, number of economic cancellations, number of flight delays, the types of airplanes used, and time delays; (3) the availability and costs of bus, rail and trucking transportation for businesses located in rural areas; (4) the availability and costs of state-of-the-art telecommunications services to small businesses located in rural areas, including voice telephone service, private (not multiparty) telephone service, reliable facsimile document and data transmission, competitive long distance carriers, cellular (mobile) telephone service, multifrequency tone signaling services such as touchtone services, custom-calling services (including three-way calling, call forwarding, and call waiting), voicemail services, and 911 emergency services with automatic number identification; (5) the availability and costs to rural schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, of sending and receiving audio and visual signals in cases where such ability will enhance the quality of services provided to rural residents and businesses; and (6) the availability and costs of services enumerated in paragraphs (1) through (5) in urban areas compared to rural areas. (b) Report.— Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this title, the Office of Technology Assessment shall transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) together with its recommendations on how to address the problems facing small businesses in rural areas.