U.S. Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR) and Bob Latta (R-OH), ranking member and member, respectively, of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee, along with fellow Republican members of the E&C Communications and Technology Subcommittee, urged full funding for the Broadband DATA Act, which was signed into law by the president on March 23.
“This legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish rules to collect broadband availability data to improve our nation’s broadband coverage maps, but the law remains unfunded,” the members wrote in a June 10 letter sent to appropriators in their chamber.
“Once this law is implemented and funded, FCC and other agencies will be able to rely on accurate broadband maps when they distribute federal funds for broadband deployment, which will lead to a more efficient use of federal dollars,” they wrote. “As you are considering future appropriations bills, we urge you to fund this law fully.”
Because private communications networks serve a vital role in connecting Americans, federal appropriators should ensure that the FCC has the tools it needs to facilitate the deployment of high-speed broadband networks, according to the lawmakers’ letter, which noted that the FCC currently spends roughly $8 billion a year to support universal service of advanced telecommunications services, much of which supports broadband deployment to unserved areas.
Funding the Broadband DATA Act would improve those efforts, wrote Rep. Walden, Rep. Latta, who chairs the E&C Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and subcommittee members.
“While we are focused on responding to the current health emergency and suppressing its reach, funding the Broadband DATA Act is vital to ensuring that all Americans are connected,” according to their letter. “With your leadership, we look forward to making that happen so that we can close the digital divide.”
Among the members who joined Reps. Walden and Latta in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. John Shimkus (R-IL), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Billy Long (R-MO), Bill Flores (R-TX), and Susan Brooks (R-IN).