[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

        By Mr. WICKER (for himself, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Moran):

  S. 2955. A bill to reform the Mobility Fund Phase II challenge 
process conducted by the Federal Communications Commission; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I rise this morning to encourage my 
colleagues to support and cosponsor the Mobile Accuracy and Precision 
Broadband Act, also known as the MAP Broadband Act.
  If we want to get broadband deployment right in this country, if we 
want to close the digital divide, particularly in rural America--in 
that great heartland of America--we need for the FCC to be working with 
an accurate map, and right now they are not working with an accurate 
map. The agency needs to know which areas are in the most desperate 
need for consistent wireless service, and the FCC's current map does 
not even come close to doing this.
  I certainly was not alone in my surprise when I saw the coverage 
shown on the map released by the FCC in late February. It portrayed my 
home State of Mississippi as basically a wireless hot spot, with only 2 
percent of my State not covered with a reliable 4G LTE connection.
  This was an absurd conclusion based on what is actually taking place 
on the ground. That would mean that 98 percent of my State should have 
one of the fastest mobile broadband connections on the market. That is 
ridiculous.
  I doubted that the map was accurate based on my own experiences, but 
I wanted to know what others had to say. So I did a survey in April. I 
sent out a survey asking Mississippians to tell me about their issues 
with connectivity. Their responses, which totaled more than 1,800, 
supported my conclusion that the FCC map is just wrong, and something 
needs to be done about it. The responses also reaffirmed what is at 
stake if the FCC does not correct the situation and get these maps 
right.
  Mississippians and Americans across this great country need better 
service so their children can do their homework. They need it so they 
can FaceTime with loved ones who are away from home in military 
service. They need it for jobs. They need it for healthcare. A bad 
connection is inconvenient, to be sure, but it means so much more to 
public safety and jobs.
  Americans in rural areas should not be at a disadvantage because of 
where we live. Strong, dependable broadband paves the way for economic 
growth for us all, and it allows for life-giving telehealth and 
cutting-edge agricultural technologies.
  No one thinks my State is an exception to the FCC map. I have yet to 
hear from any colleague in the Senate who thinks this national map 
accurately reflects the coverage back in our State. So I propose that 
we continue to work together with legislation to direct the FCC to get 
this right. Let's harness the best data for closing the digital divide. 
Let's make sure decisions are informed by the most accurate maps 
possible.
  Now, what is at stake here? There is $4.53 billion that is at stake 
here. The way we are headed now with this program and with this 
inaccurate map, the Mobility Fund Phase II program is about to go 
forward with funds being distributed based on a map that is absolutely 
wrong.
  So my bill would do four things that I think would help. My bill 
would give challengers more time to voice their concerns and submit 
better data.
  It would require the FCC to extend the challenge process by 90 days.
  My bill would also require the FCC to disclose which phones should be 
getting 4G LTE service so consumers can know whether their service 
meets these expectations. In addition, it would require the FCC to 
provide monthly updates on the percentage of areas on the map that are 
being challenged and the number of challengers.
  Fourth, we would monitor the effectiveness of the Mobility Fund Phase 
II program by the agency offering annual updates on how mobile wireless 
service is being expanded.
  If anyone in the Senate, if anyone in the House, if anyone who can 
hear me today has a better idea, I am open to adding that to the bill. 
But at the end of the day, rushing through this challenge process is 
not in the best interests of Americans who are waiting for fast 
wireless coverage. It is not in the best interests, frankly, of the 
Commission, which needs to take the time to get it right, and we are 
out to help them to do that.
  There will be original cosponsors from both sides of the aisle today 
when I drop the bill. Those who want to be a part of the challenge 
process need time and resources to put forward sound information--
information to help the FCC develop a map that truly portrays broadband 
limitations in this country. An accurate map would also help ensure the 
proper use of billions of taxpayer dollars--public dollars--to lead to 
real results to get us where we need to go.
  We cannot go forward and we should not go forward with the data we 
have. My legislation today would take a big step in ensuring that 
before we distribute these billions of dollars, we need to make sure 
that we know what we are talking about, that we have the right 
information, and that we get it right.
  Thank you.
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