McMorris Rodgers sponsors bipartisan bill to revamp broadband mapping process

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) on June 6 sponsored a bipartisan bill to overhaul America’s broadband mapping process to ensure services are being deployed throughout the country.

“This legislation will revamp the broadband mapping process so that federal agencies and private industry are able to target improvements to the areas that need it most and finally bridge the digital divide in rural communities,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said last week.

The congresswoman introduced the Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2019, H.R. 3162, which has five cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), to improve broadband data collection, mapping and validation to support the effective deployment of broadband services to all areas of the United States, according to the congressional record.

“Access to broadband is basic infrastructure in our 21st century economy, but for too many people, including many in rural eastern Washington, it’s still not a reality,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “One of the main challenges we face is having accurate data about what areas have access and where we need to improve.”

Among several provisions, H.R. 3162 would require broadband providers to report data to create an improved National Broadband Map that would be subject to an ongoing, three-pronged challenge, validation and refinement process, according to a summary provided by Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ office.

The three-pronged Data Validation Process would include public feedback about the map’s accuracy obtained via a new feedback tool; acquisition of third-party commercial datasets on broadband availability that are analyzed and compared against provider-reported data; and targeted on-the-ground field validation of services in areas where public feedback and third-party data suggest the map is incorrect, according to the summary.

NCTA — the Internet and Television Association, Microsoft Corp., the Rural Broadband Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association have voiced support for H.R. 3162, which has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.