[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 317 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 317

 Recognizing the importance of broadband in rural areas throughout the 
United States and the critical need to invest in broadband expansion in 
         an increasingly remote and digitally dependent world.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 24, 2023

    Mr. Baird (for himself and Mr. Cuellar) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
  and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the importance of broadband in rural areas throughout the 
United States and the critical need to invest in broadband expansion in 
         an increasingly remote and digitally dependent world.

Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting public health emergency declared 
        by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2020 led to an increase 
        in dependency on both remote and digital communication in schools, 
        businesses, government agencies, healthcare facilities, and places of 
        work, making access to reliable high-speed internet essential for many 
        Americans, more than ever before;
Whereas technology is transforming the agriculture industry and changing the way 
        farms operate, and such advances are largely dependent on maintaining 
        strong internet connectivity in rural communities;
Whereas consistent internet connectivity is essential for farmers, and 
        innovation on farms and in other rural settings is severely hampered if 
        these locations lack access to robust broadband;
Whereas a gap currently persists among rural and urban communities with respect 
        to delivering high-speed and reliable broadband to all Americans, 
        despite the growth in, and increasing normality of, remote work and 
        digital communication since 2020;
Whereas high-quality internet access is essential for Americans to work, learn, 
        and communicate with one another and it is therefore important that 
        broadband access in underserved communities be improved and maintained;
Whereas approximately 60 percent of broadband capacity is used by large 
        companies that provide content streaming services, and rural broadband 
        providers have difficulty in raising prices to cover the costs 
        associated with this ever-growing demand;
Whereas the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy should 
        establish a broadband research and development working group to address 
        national research challenges and opportunities for improving broadband 
        access and adoption across the United States; and
Whereas one of the most vital needs for our country is modern and durable 
        infrastructure, which includes strong and robust broadband: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives finds that--
            (1) the Federal Communications Commission should study the 
        current and projected demands on rural broadband networks 
        associated with services offered by large companies that 
        provide content streaming services;
            (2) in order to expand rural broadband assistance and to 
        improve the administration and accountability of the broadband 
        programs at the Department of Agriculture, there should be 
        codification of programs such as the ReConnect Loan and Grant 
        Program; and
            (3) access to broadband in the United States is in critical 
        need of improvement, particularly as it affects Americans 
        located in rural communities who continue to struggle to stay 
        connected in an increasingly remote and digitally dependent 
        world.
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