[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4459 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4459

 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
   study on the capability of the Appalachian Regional Commission to 
   include satellites in broadband projects, and for other purposes.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 30, 2026

 Mr. Husted (for himself and Ms. Alsobrooks) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment 
                            and Public Works

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                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
   study on the capability of the Appalachian Regional Commission to 
   include satellites in broadband projects, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Expanding Appalachia's Broadband 
Access Act''.

SEC. 2 GAO STUDY ON SATELLITE BROADBAND.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct, and submit to Congress the results thereof, a study on the 
capability of the Appalachian Regional Commission to incorporate 
satellites in broadband projects.
    (b) Requirements.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) review the capacity of satellite broadband services to 
        be used for business purposes;
            (2) evaluate economic development growth in areas that have 
        used satellite broadband for businesses; and
            (3) analyze the cost-effectiveness of implementing 
        broadband via satellites for economic development.
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