Bipartisan Capito bill establishes uniform, baseline internet service level

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on May 27 introduced a bipartisan bill that aims to increase access to uniform and reliable high-speed internet service across the nation that can support virtual learning, telehealth services and telework.

“The future of West Virginia relies on our ability to connect rural communities and close the digital divide across our state,” Sen. Capito said. 

The lawmaker signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the Broadband Parity Act of 2021, S. 1884, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) to ensure that fixed broadband internet access service assisted by any federal broadband support program meets a minimum level of service, according to the text of the bill.

“I appreciate Senator Rosen’s continued partnership on bipartisan efforts to improve internet connectivity for all Americans, and joint efforts like this one to bring parity on what defines high-speed broadband across all federal broadband programs,” said Sen. Capito, who serves on the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee with Rosen.

If enacted, S. 1884 would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to coordinate with federal agencies to establish a baseline level of service that internet service providers must provide customers when they offer service via a federal broadband support program, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Capito’s staff.

Once the FCC establishes a baseline level of internet service through a rulemaking, then S. 1884 would require that federal agencies only provide federal assistance if a program supports internet service that meets or exceeds, or will meet or exceed, that baseline when broadband service is deployed, the summary says.

Sens. Capito and Rosen first introduced a similar version of the legislation in November 2019.