[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 203 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H10287-H10291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACCURACY AND TECHNOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY ACT
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4229) to require the Federal
Communications Commission to issue rules relating to the collection of
data with respect to the availability of broadband services, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4229
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 ``Broadband Deployment
Accuracy and Technological Availability Act'' or the
``Broadband DATA Act''.
SEC. 2. BROADBAND DATA.
The Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``TITLE VIII--BROADBAND DATA
``SEC. 801. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Broadband internet access service.--The term
`broadband internet access service' has the meaning given the
term in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation.
``(2) Broadband map.--The term `Broadband Map' means the
map created by the Commission under section 802(c)(1)(A).
``(3) Cell edge probability.--The term `cell edge
probability' means the likelihood that the minimum threshold
download and upload speeds with respect to broadband internet
access service will be met or exceeded at a distance from a
base station that is intended to indicate the ultimate edge
of the coverage area of a cell.
``(4) Cell loading.--The term `cell loading' means the
percentage of the available air interface resources of a base
station that are used by consumers with respect to broadband
internet access service.
``(5) Clutter.--The term `clutter' means a natural or man-
made surface feature that affects the propagation of a signal
from a base station.
``(6) Fabric.--The term `Fabric' means the Broadband
Serviceable Location Fabric established under section
802(b)(1)(B).
``(7) Form 477.--The term `Form 477' means Form 477 of the
Commission relating to local telephone competition and
broadband reporting.
``(8) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
meaning given the term `Indian tribe' in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
``(9) Mobility fund phase ii.--The term `Mobility Fund
Phase II' means the second phase of the proceeding to provide
universal service support from the Mobility Fund (WC Docket
No. 10-90; WT Docket No. 10-208).
``(10) Propagation model.--The term `propagation model'
means a mathematical formulation for the characterization of
radio wave propagation as a function of frequency, distance,
and other conditions.
``(11) Provider.--The term `provider' means a provider of
fixed or mobile broadband internet access service.
``(12) Quality of service.--The term `quality of service'
means information regarding offered download and upload
speeds and latency of a provider's broadband internet access
service as determined by and to the extent otherwise
collected by the Commission.
``(13) Shapefile.--The term `shapefile' means a digital
storage format containing geospatial or location-based data
and attribute information--
``(A) regarding the availability of broadband internet
access service; and
``(B) that can be viewed, edited, and mapped in geographic
information system software.
``(14) Standard broadband installation.--The term `standard
broadband installation'--
``(A) means the initiation by a provider of fixed broadband
internet access service in an area where the provider has not
previously offered that service, with no charges or delays
attributable to the extension of the network of the provider;
and
``(B) includes the initiation of fixed broadband internet
access service through routine installation that can be
completed not later than 10 business days after the date on
which the service request is submitted.
``SEC. 802. BROADBAND MAPS.
``(a) Rules.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this title, the Commission shall issue rules
that shall--
``(A) require the collection and dissemination of granular
data, as determined by the Commission--
``(i) relating to the availability and quality of service
of terrestrial fixed, fixed wireless, satellite, and mobile
broadband internet access service; and
``(ii) that the Commission shall use to compile the maps
created under subsection (c)(1) (referred to in this section
as `coverage maps'), which the Commission shall make publicly
available; and
``(B) establish--
``(i) processes through which the Commission can verify the
accuracy of data submitted under subsection (b)(2);
``(ii) processes and procedures through which the
Commission, and, as necessary, other entities or persons
submitting non-public or competitively sensitive information
under this title, can protect the security, privacy, and
confidentiality of such non-public or competitively sensitive
information, including--
``(I) information contained in the Fabric;
``(II) the dataset created under subsection (b)(1)(A)
supporting the Fabric; and
``(III) the data submitted under subsection (b)(2);
``(iii) the challenge process described in subsection
(b)(5); and
``(iv) the process described in section 803(b).
``(2) Other data.--In issuing the rules under paragraph
(1), the Commission shall develop a process through which the
Commission can collect verified data for use in the coverage
maps from--
``(A) State, local, and Tribal governmental entities that
are primarily responsible for mapping or tracking broadband
internet access service coverage for a State, unit of local
government, or Indian Tribe, as applicable;
``(B) third parties, including industry analysis, mapping,
or tracking of broadband internet access service coverage and
quality of service, if the Commission determines that it is
in the public interest to use such data in--
``(i) the development of the coverage maps; or
``(ii) the verification of data submitted under subsection
(b); and
``(C) other Federal agencies.
``(3) Updates.--The Commission shall revise the rules
issued under paragraph (1) to--
``(A) reflect changes in technology;
``(B) ensure the accuracy of propagation models, as further
provided in subsection (b)(3); and
``(C) improve the usefulness of the coverage maps.
``(b) Content of Rules.--
``(1) Establishment of a serviceable location fabric
regarding fixed broadband.--
``(A) Dataset.--
``(i) In general.--The Commission shall create a common
dataset of all locations in the United States where fixed
broadband internet access service can be installed, as
determined by the Commission.
``(ii) Contracting.--
``(I) In general.--Subject to subclauses (II) and (III),
the Commission may only contract with an entity with
expertise with respect to geographic information systems
(referred to in this subsection as `GIS') to create and
maintain the dataset under clause (i).
``(II) Application of the federal acquisition regulation.--
A contract into which the
[[Page H10288]]
Commission enters under subclause (I) shall in all respects
comply with applicable provisions of the Federal Acquisition
Regulation.
``(III) Limitations.--With respect to a contract into which
the Commission enters under subclause (I)--
``(aa) the entity with which the Commission contracts shall
be selected through a competitive bid process that is
transparent and open;
``(bb) the contract shall be for a term of not longer than
5 years, after which the Commission may enter into a new
contract--
``(AA) with an entity, and for the purposes, described in
clause (i); and
``(BB) that complies with the requirements under subclause
(II) and this subclause; and
``(cc) the contract shall prohibit the entity with which
the Commission contracts (and require such entity to include
in any contract with any other entity with which such entity
contracts a provision prohibiting such other entity) from
selling, leasing, or otherwise disclosing for monetary
consideration any personally identifiable information to any
entity other than for purposes authorized under this title.
``(B) Fabric.--The rules issued by the Commission under
subsection (a)(1) shall establish the Broadband Serviceable
Location Fabric, which shall--
``(i) contain geocoded information for each location
identified under subparagraph (A)(i);
``(ii) serve as the foundation upon which all data relating
to the availability of fixed broadband internet access
service collected under paragraph (2)(A) shall be reported
and overlaid;
``(iii) be compatible with commonly used GIS software; and
``(iv) at a minimum, be updated every 6 months by the
Commission.
``(C) Implementation priority.--The Commission shall
prioritize implementing the Fabric for rural and insular
areas of the United States.
``(2) Collection of information.--The rules issued by the
Commission under subsection (a)(1) shall include uniform
standards for the reporting of broadband internet access
service data that the Commission shall collect--
``(A) from each provider of terrestrial fixed, fixed
wireless, or satellite broadband internet access service,
which shall include data that--
``(i) documents the areas where the provider--
``(I) has actually built out the broadband network
infrastructure of the provider such that the provider is able
to provide that service; and
``(II) could provide that service, as determined by
identifying where the provider is capable of performing a
standard broadband installation, if applicable;
``(ii) includes information regarding download and upload
speeds, at various thresholds established by the Commission,
and, if applicable, latency with respect to broadband
internet access service that the provider makes available;
``(iii) can be georeferenced to the GIS data in the Fabric;
``(iv) the provider shall report as--
``(I) with respect to providers of fixed wireless broadband
internet access service--
``(aa) propagation maps and propagation model details
that--
``(AA) satisfy standards that are similar to those
applicable to providers of mobile broadband internet access
service under subparagraph (B) with respect to propagation
maps and propagation model details, taking into account
material differences between fixed wireless and mobile
broadband internet access service; and
``(BB) reflect the speeds and latency of the service
provided by the provider; or
``(bb) a list of addresses or locations that constitute the
service area of the provider, except that the Commission--
``(AA) may only permit, and not require, a provider to
report the data using that means of reporting; and
``(BB) in the rules issued under subsection (a)(1), shall
provide a method for using that means of reporting with
respect to Tribal areas; and
``(II) with respect to providers of terrestrial fixed and
satellite broadband internet access service--
``(aa) polygon shapefiles; or
``(bb) a list of addresses or locations that constitute the
service area of the provider, except that the Commission--
``(AA) may only permit, and not require, a provider to
report the data using that means of reporting; and
``(BB) in the rules issued under subsection (a)(1), shall
provide a method for using that means of reporting with
respect to Tribal areas; and
``(v) the Commission determines is appropriate with respect
to certain technologies in order to ensure that the Broadband
Map is granular and accurate; and
``(B) from each provider of mobile broadband internet
access service, which shall include propagation maps, and
propagation model details, that indicate the current (as of
the date on which the information is collected) fourth
generation Long-Term Evolution (commonly referred to as `4G
LTE') mobile broadband internet access service coverage of
the provider, which shall--
``(i) take into consideration the effect of clutter; and
``(ii) satisfy--
``(I) the requirements of having--
``(aa) a download speed of not less than 5 megabits per
second and an upload speed of not less than 1 megabit per
second with a cell edge probability of not less than 90
percent; and
``(bb) cell loading of not less than 50 percent; and
``(II) any other parameter that the Commission determines
to be necessary to create a map under subsection (c)(1)(C)
that is more precise than the map produced as a result of the
submissions under the Mobility Fund Phase II information
collection.
``(3) Update of reporting standards for mobile broadband
internet access service.--For the purposes of paragraph
(2)(B), if the Commission determines that the reporting
standards under that paragraph are insufficient to collect
accurate propagation maps and propagation model details with
respect to future generations of mobile broadband internet
access service technologies, the Commission shall immediately
commence a rulemaking to adopt new reporting standards with
respect to those technologies that--
``(A) shall be the functional equivalent of the standards
required under paragraph (2)(B); and
``(B) allow for the collection of propagation maps and
propagation model details that are as accurate and granular
as, or more accurate and granular than, the maps and model
details collected by the Commission under paragraph (2)(B).
``(4) Certification and verification.--With respect to a
provider that submits information to the Commission under
paragraph (2)--
``(A) the provider shall include in each submission a
certification from a corporate officer of the provider that
the officer has examined the information contained in the
submission and that, to the best of the officer's actual
knowledge, information, and belief, all statements of fact
contained in the submission are true and correct; and
``(B) the Commission shall verify the accuracy and
reliability of the information in accordance with measures
established by the Commission.
``(5) Challenge process.--
``(A) In general.--In the rules issued under subsection
(a)(1), and subject to subparagraph (B), the Commission shall
establish a user-friendly challenge process through which
consumers, State, local, and Tribal governmental entities,
and other entities or persons may submit coverage data to the
Commission to challenge the accuracy of--
``(i) the coverage maps;
``(ii) any information submitted by a provider regarding
the availability of broadband internet access service; or
``(iii) the information included in the Fabric.
``(B) Considerations; verification; response to
challenges.--In establishing the challenge process required
under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall--
``(i) consider--
``(I) the types of information that an entity or person
submitting a challenge should provide to the Commission in
support of the challenge;
``(II) the appropriate level of granularity for the
information described in subclause (I);
``(III) the need to mitigate the time and expense incurred
by, and the administrative burdens placed on, entities or
persons in--
``(aa) challenging the accuracy of a coverage map; and
``(bb) responding to challenges described in item (aa);
``(IV) the costs to consumers and providers resulting from
a misallocation of funds because of a reliance on outdated or
otherwise inaccurate information in the coverage maps;
``(V) any lessons learned from the challenge process
established under Mobility Fund Phase II, as determined from
comments solicited by the Commission; and
``(VI) the need for user-friendly challenge submission
formats that will promote participation in the challenge
process;
``(ii) include a process for verifying the data submitted
through the challenge process in order to ensure the
reliability of that data;
``(iii) allow providers to respond to challenges submitted
through the challenge process; and
``(iv) develop an online mechanism, which--
``(I) shall be integrated into the coverage maps;
``(II) allows for an entity or person described in
subparagraph (A) to submit a challenge under the challenge
process;
``(III) makes challenge data available in both geographic
information system and non-geographic information system
formats; and
``(IV) clearly identifies the areas in which broadband
internet access service is available, and the upload and
download speeds at which that service is available, as
reported to the Commission under this section.
``(C) Use of challenges.--The rules issued to establish the
challenge process under subparagraph (A) shall include--
``(i) a process for the speedy resolution of challenges;
and
``(ii) a process for the regular and expeditious updating
of the coverage maps and granular data the Commission
disseminates as challenges are resolved.
``(D) Automation tool.--Not earlier than 1 year after, and
not later than 18 months after, the rules issued under
subsection (a)(1) are implemented, the Commission shall,
after an opportunity for notice and comment, submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report that--
``(i) evaluates the challenge process; and
``(ii) considers whether the Commission should amend its
rules to create an automated tool that includes predictive
capabilities to identify potential inaccuracies and features
that allow a provider of broadband internet access service,
the Commission, and the public to visualize the data relating
to broadband internet access service that the provider
reports in order to improve the accuracy of the data
submitted by the provider.
``(6) Reform of form 477 process.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
on which the rules issued under subsection (a)(1) take
effect, the Commission shall--
``(i) reform the Form 477 broadband deployment service
availability collection process of
[[Page H10289]]
the Commission to achieve the purposes of this title and in a
manner that enables the comparison of data and maps produced
before the implementation of this title with data and
coverage maps produced after the implementation of this title
and maintains the public availability of broadband deployment
service availability data; and
``(ii) harmonize reporting requirements and procedures
regarding the deployment of broadband internet access service
that, as of the date on which the rules issued under
subsection (a)(1) take effect, are in effect.
``(B) Continued collection and reporting.--On and after the
date on which the Commission carries out subparagraph (A),
the Commission shall continue to collect and publicly report
subscription data that the Commission collected through the
Form 477 broadband deployment service availability collection
process, as in effect on July 1, 2019.
``(c) Maps.--The Commission shall--
``(1) after consulting with the Federal Geographic Data
Committee established by section 753(a) of the Geospatial
Data Act of 2018 (43 U.S.C. 2802(a)), create--
``(A) the Broadband Map, which shall depict--
``(i) the extent of the availability of broadband internet
access service in the United States, without regard to
whether that service is fixed broadband internet access
service or mobile broadband internet access service, which
shall be based on data collected by the Commission from all
providers; and
``(ii) the areas of the United States that remain unserved
by providers;
``(B) a map that depicts the availability of fixed
broadband internet access service, which shall be based on
data collected by the Commission from providers under
subsection (b)(2)(A); and
``(C) a map that depicts the availability of mobile
broadband internet access service, which shall be based on
data collected by the Commission from providers under
subsection (b)(2)(B);
``(2) use the maps created under paragraph (1)--
``(A) to determine the areas in which terrestrial fixed,
fixed wireless, mobile, and satellite broadband internet
access service is and is not available; and
``(B) when making any new award of funding with respect to
the deployment of broadband internet access service;
``(3) update the maps created under paragraph (1) not less
frequently than biannually using the most recent data
collected from providers under subsection (b)(2);
``(4) make available to all Federal agencies, upon request,
the maps created under paragraph (1);
``(5) establish a process to make the data collected under
subsection (b)(2) available to the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration; and
``(6) make public at an appropriate level of granularity--
``(A) the maps created under paragraph (1); and
``(B) the data collected by the Commission with respect to
broadband internet access service availability and quality of
service.
``(d) Delayed Effective Date of Quality of Service Rules.--
Any requirement of a rule relating to quality of service
issued under subsection (a)(1) shall take effect not earlier
than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the
Commission issues such rule.
``SEC. 803. IMPROVING DATA ACCURACY.
``(a) Audits.--The Commission shall conduct regular audits
of information submitted to the Commission by providers under
section 802(b)(2) to ensure that the providers are complying
with this title.
``(b) Crowdsourcing.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission shall--
``(A) develop a process through which entities or persons
in the United States may submit specific information about
the deployment and availability of broadband internet access
service in the United States on an ongoing basis so that the
information may be used to verify and supplement information
provided by providers of broadband internet access service
for inclusion in the maps created under section 802(c)(1);
and
``(B) update the maps created under section 802(c)(1) on no
less than an annual cycle based on the information received
through such process.
``(2) Collaboration.--As part of the efforts of the
Commission to facilitate the ability of entities or persons
to submit information under paragraph (1), the Commission
shall--
``(A) prioritize the consideration of data provided by data
collection applications used by consumers that the Commission
has determined--
``(i) are highly reliable; and
``(ii) have proven methodologies for determining network
coverage and network performance; and
``(B) coordinate with the Postmaster General, or the heads
of other Federal agencies that operate delivery fleet
vehicles, to facilitate the submission of specific
information by the United States Postal Service or such other
agencies under paragraph (1).
``(c) Technical Assistance to Indian Tribes.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission
shall hold annual workshops for Tribal governments to provide
technical assistance with the collection and submission of
data under section 802(a)(2)(A).
``(2) Annual review.--Each year, the Commission, in
consultation with Indian Tribes, shall review the need for
continued workshops required under paragraph (1).
``(d) Technical Assistance to Small Service Providers.--The
Commission shall establish a process through which a provider
that has fewer than 100,000 active broadband internet access
service connections may request and receive assistance from
the Commission with respect to geographic information system
data processing to ensure that the provider is able to comply
with the rules issued under section 802(a)(1) in a timely and
accurate manner.
``(e) GAO Assessment of Fabric Source Data.--
``(1) Assessment.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct an assessment of key data sources that
are used for purposes of the Fabric to identify and geocode
locations where fixed broadband internet access service can
be installed, in order to develop recommendations for how the
quality and completeness of such data sources can be improved
as data sources for the Fabric. Data sources to be assessed
shall include any sources of relevant Federal data, including
the National Address Database administered by the Department
of Transportation, State- and county-level digitized parcel
data, and property tax record tax attribute recording.
``(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this title, the Comptroller General shall submit
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report containing the
recommendations developed in the assessment under paragraph
(1).
``(f) Technical Assistance to Consumers and State, Local,
and Tribal Governmental Entities.--The Commission shall
provide technical assistance to consumers and State, local,
and Tribal governmental entities with respect to the
challenge process established under section 802(b)(5), which
shall include--
``(1) detailed tutorials and webinars; and
``(2) making available staff of the Commission to provide
assistance, as needed, throughout the entirety of the
challenge process.
``SEC. 804. COST.
``(a) Limitation.--The Commission may not use funds from
the universal service programs of the Commission established
under section 254, and the regulations issued under that
section, to carry out this title.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Commission to carry out this
title--
``(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
``(2) $9,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through
2028.
``SEC. 805. OTHER PROVISIONS.
``(a) OMB.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
initial rulemaking required under section 802(a)(1) shall be
exempt from review by the Office of Management and Budget.
``(b) PRA.--Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code
(commonly known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act') shall not
apply to the initial rulemaking required under section
802(a)(1).
``(c) Execution of Responsibilities.--Except, with respect
to an entity that is not the Universal Service Administrative
Company, as provided in sections 802(a)(2)(B),
802(b)(1)(A)(ii), and 803(d), the Commission--
``(1) including the offices of the Commission, shall carry
out the responsibilities assigned to the Commission under
this title; and
``(2) may not delegate any of the responsibilities assigned
to the Commission under this title to any third party,
including the Universal Service Administrative Company.
``(d) Reporting.--Each fiscal year, the Commission shall
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that
summarizes the implementation of this title and associated
enforcement activities conducted during the previous fiscal
year.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Michael F. Doyle) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Latta) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise
and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 4229.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself
such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, first off, I want to thank Ranking Member Walden and his
staff for their willingness and dedication in working with us to come
to an agreement on this legislation and work with us to move it through
the House.
H.R. 4229, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological
Availability, or DATA, Act, introduced by Mr. Loebsack and subcommittee
Ranking Member Latta, would require the Federal Communications
Commission to take steps to address the many problems with our current
broadband maps. We have talked about incomplete and inaccurate
broadband maps for as long as I have been on the Energy and Commerce
Committee, and I am glad that my colleagues were able to come together
and finally address this important issue.
[[Page H10290]]
Accurate maps of who does and doesn't have access to broadband are a
critical first step in closing the digital divide. We can't hope to
solve this problem if we don't know the scope of it and where to put
our resources. This bill would dramatically improve the FCC broadband
maps by requiring the FCC to collect and disseminate far more granular
broadband data for both fixed and mobile services. The bill would also
allow the FCC to use crowdsourced data to help verify and supplement
carrier-provided data.
This bill also integrates concepts and principles from H.R. 4128, the
Map Improvement Act of 2019, introduced by Representatives Lujan,
Bilirakis, and myself; H.R. 2643, the Broadband Mapping After Public
Scrutiny Act of 2019, introduced by Ranking Member Latta and my good
friend, Congressman Welch, who has been a leader on addressing the
broadband mapping issue; and H.R. 3162, the Broadband Data Improvement
Act of 2019, introduced by Representatives McMorris Rodgers and
O'Halleran.
H.R. 4229 is a commonsense bill with bipartisan support to fix a
longstanding problem in our Nation's broadband maps.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Broadband DATA
Act.
Over the last several Congresses, I have been focused on improving
our broadband availability maps, so we not only inject fiscal
responsibility into our Federal programs but to also connect thousands
of my constituents who lack basic access to a meaningful internet
connection. As we approach the end of the second decade in the 21st
century, we must ensure all Americans are able to participate in the
digital economy.
Since passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the private sector
has invested roughly $1.7 trillion in their networks using different
technologies. This private investment in rural broadband deployment is
commendable and needed, but we must also make sure that government-
supported solutions complement private investment instead of competing
with it. The Broadband DATA Act will do just that. It will improve our
Nation's coverage maps so that we can better pinpoint where internet
access is and where it isn't. This accuracy is vital in directing
Federal funds to communities that need it the most.
That is why I am pleased to see this important broadband mapping
legislation before us today. I have worked on this bill with my friends
across the aisle--specifically my good friend, the gentleman from Iowa
(Mr. Loebsack)--and in the Senate. I appreciate the renewed focus this
Congress has on improving the broadband maps because it is critically
important our future funding decisions are based upon data that is
verified, accurate, and granular.
As Members of Congress, we know our districts better than anyone, and
we hear from those who do not have service. When we compared our
knowledge with the existing maps, we recognized the need to take action
and fix the maps to reflect reality.
While the Broadband DATA Act will move us closer in that direction,
it is an evolving landscape and inevitably we will need to continually
evaluate their effectiveness. That is why this bill includes a robust,
user-friendly challenge process to appropriately dispute potential
inaccuracies within the coverage maps. The challenge process is yet
another layer to ensuring Federal funds are going to communities that
need it most and ultimately bridging the digital divide in Ohio and
across the entire Nation.
Mr. Speaker, today we are taking a meaningful step to promote
broadband deployment in rural America. I urge my colleagues to support
this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes
to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack), who is the Democratic prime
sponsor and author of this bill.
Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Doyle for yielding 5
minutes to me.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today to speak in support of my
bill, the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability
Act, or the Broadband DATA Act, which I introduced with my colleagues
Representatives Latta, McEachin, and Long.
I have spent my time at the Committee on Energy and Commerce
advocating for the people of Iowa's Second District and for all rural
Americans. I have had good partners on this committee. Congressman
Latta and I have worked together on numerous issues, not just this one,
and I appreciate the time and energy that Chairman Pallone and Chairman
Doyle have spent on ensuring the issues important to Iowans get
attention and because they understand that in 2019 it is simply
unacceptable that many families and small businesses, farmers,
educators, and healthcare providers in rural areas don't have the
necessary access to high-speed internet.
I have often said that there are two things needed to connect rural
America to high-speed broadband, and that is dollars and data. Without
reliable data, the dollars don't matter. As I have often said: garbage
in is garbage out. You have to have good data to know where the
problems exist, otherwise--maybe even more importantly--it is a waste
of taxpayer dollars as well.
When this bill becomes law, we will finally begin to fix the bad
broadband maps that for too long have often misstated speed and
availability throughout these rural areas in America. In order to
actually fix the problem and get high-speed broadband in rural areas,
we absolutely must have the best data available. It really is that
simple. Without knowing where the high-speed broadband problems truly
exist, we cannot properly invest in building out that access.
That is why I am proud that the Broadband DATA Act will, first,
require the FCC to collect granular service availability data from
wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers; second, it
will require strong parameters for service availability data that we
collect from mobile broadband providers to ensure accuracy; and, third,
it will create a challenge process. This is very important for
consumers; State, local, and Tribal governments and other groups to
challenge FCC maps with their own data.
It requires the FCC to determine how to structure the process without
making it overly burdensome on these challenges.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Chairmen Pallone and Doyle and
Ranking Members Walden and Latta and all of the staff, in particular my
staff over here, Scott. I urge all of my colleagues in this body to
support this bill so that we can finally fix the maps and build
broadband out to rural America.
I have only been on the committee a short time relative to some
others, and they have been talking about this for years. I thank
Chairman Doyle and Representatives Latta and Walden for all the great
work they provided on this.
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I have no more
speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1630
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely important that we have rural
broadband access. It is not only to help our citizens but our students.
We have to make sure that our businesses and our farmers all have the
access they need to survive in this world that we live in today.
Mr. Speaker, I highly urge our Members of this House to support this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself
such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel said at our last
oversight hearing, we need accurate maps before we spend money, and we
need better data if we want good deployments.
More than that, I would add, the FCC needs to fix the maps that they
have before they go out spending billions of dollars on broadband
deployment in rural communities. Some of the funding choices the
Commission has discussed making could impact these communities for the
next 10 years.
The Commission has also acted on a range of regulatory actions
related to
[[Page H10291]]
deployment and competition using bad maps.
To be honest, I think the FCC needs to fix its maps before it makes
either funding or regulatory decisions. To be honest, it seems like the
FCC is a fact-free zone when it comes to the disconnect between how bad
their maps are and the kinds of actions they are taking.
I want to thank the good work done by my colleague Dave Loebsack.
The broadband mapping issue has been a passion of his for a long time,
and I am glad that we are acting to address it before Dave retires. I
know that he and his staffer Scott Stockwell, who is celebrating his
birthday--and I wish Scott a happy birthday--have worked hard to get
this legislation to the floor today. It is a critical first step in
getting our Nation on the right track to closing the digital divide.
I also thank our committee staffers Jerry Leverich, Dan Miller, AJ
Brown, Parul Desai, Phil Murphy, and Alex Hoehn-Saric on the majority
staff, and Kate O'Connor, Evan Viau, Mike Engel, and Rachel Rathore on
the minority staff for their hard work and diligence to get this bill
to floor.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill and address a critical
shortfall in our Nation's broadband deployment policy.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Michael F. Doyle) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4229, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________