[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2922-S2924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MODERNIZATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PLANNING FOR BROADBAND FUNDING ACT
Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss an issue that is
near and dear to the State of Nebraska and to rural America, and that
is the issue of closing the digital divide for unserved and underserved
communities.
My husband Bruce and I raised our family on a cattle ranch near
Valentine, NE, so I know what it means to
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live in a community where reliable internet is a luxury--it is not a
given--and I know the opportunities rural America is missing as a
result, from education and telehealth to entrepreneurship and precision
agriculture.
Over the past decade, Congress has provided tens of billions of
dollars for hundreds of programs administered by more than a dozen
Federal Agencies. The centerpiece of that investment was the BEAD
Program--a more than $40 billion broadband deployment initiative
included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and it was
enacted into law nearly 5 years ago.
As part of that legislation, I worked in a bipartisan fashion with
Senator Cortez Masto to create the Broadband Funding Map--an FCC tool
that provides a public overview of broadband infrastructure deployment
projects that are funded with Federal dollars. But now we must ask, are
those dollars making a difference for the families, for the businesses,
and for the communities that need them the most? The American people,
Federal Agencies, and broadband providers deserve clarity so they can
make informed decisions about where additional investment is needed.
This will also help avoid duplicative Federal funding.
Since then, we have identified a need for fresh oversight of the
FCC's management of this tool. That is why Senator Cortez Masto and I
introduced the MAP for Broadband Funding Act. At its core, this bill is
about accountability. It will strengthen oversight of the Federal
Communications Commission and direct it to review how usable and
accurate that map really is for the public and also for providers. It
also tasks the Government Accountability Office with ensuring Federal
Agencies are reporting information correctly. If the map is flawed,
then the billions of dollars that are tied to it risk missing the mark.
I am proud that this bipartisan bill cleared the Senate Commerce
Committee unanimously in February. Now it is time for the full Senate
to pass it too. Americans will be better connected and better served
because of it.
Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule
XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate
consideration of Calendar No. 407, S. 2585.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2585) to modernize and improve the Broadband
Funding Map in order to promote the most efficient use of
Federal funds for broadband deployment, and for other
purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Modernization,
Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act'' or
the ``MAP for Broadband Funding Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Broadband funding map.--The term ``Broadband Funding
Map'' means the Deployment Locations Map, as defined in
section 60105(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(a)).
(3) Broadband infrastructure.--The term ``broadband
infrastructure'' has the meaning given that term in section
60105(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47
U.S.C. 1704(a)).
(4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(5) NTIA.--The term ``NTIA'' means the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration.
SEC. 3. BROADBAND FUNDING MAP MODERNIZATION.
(a) In General.--The Commission, in coordination with NTIA,
shall collect data submitted for the Broadband Funding Map by
relevant Federal agencies on a reasonable and timely basis
pursuant to section 60105(d) of the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(d)), in order to promote the
most efficient use of Federal funds for broadband deployment
and prevent inefficient use or fragmentation of Federal
funding for broadband infrastructure.
(b) Inquiry.--
(1) Notice of inquiry.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), not later
than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Commission shall initiate a notice of inquiry concerning the
optimum functionality and transparency of the Broadband
Funding Map, including the quality and completeness of the
data populated to the Broadband Funding Map.
(B) Request for vote.--Any Commissioner may request a vote
at the Commission level prior to the initiation of a notice
of inquiry required under subparagraph (A). Upon such
request, the notice of inquiry required under subparagraph
(A) may not proceed unless a majority of the Commissioners
vote to approve the notice of inquiry.
(2) Evaluation considerations.--In the inquiry, the
Commission shall include evaluation of the following
considerations:
(A) The adequacy with which Federal agencies have been able
to collect and submit the required categories of data
pursuant to section 60105(d) of the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(d)) to date.
(B) The usability of such existing categories of data
described in subparagraph (A) to the public, and whether any
category should be added, eliminated, or otherwise altered
for improved user experience.
(C) The timeliness of periodic updates from Federal
agencies to the Broadband Funding Map pursuant to section
60105(e) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47
U.S.C. 1704(e).
(D) Whether the scope of programmatic data to be reported
to the Broadband Funding Map pursuant to section 60105(d)(1)
of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C.
1704(d)(1)) should be expanded.
(E) Whether third-party mapping data should be incorporated
to improve the functionality and transparency of the
Broadband Funding Map.
(F) Any manners in which the Commission should potentially
augment or streamline the Broadband Funding Map with existing
Commission mapping tools.
(3) Completion.--Not later than 120 days after the
initiation of the inquiry under paragraph (1), the Commission
shall complete the inquiry.
SEC. 4. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall--
(1) conduct a study on the roles, responsibilities, and
progress to date of Federal agencies to maintain the
Broadband Funding Map and ensure the completeness and
continued relevance of the Broadband Funding Map; and
(2) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report on the study under paragraph (1) that includes the
findings and conclusions of the Comptroller General.
(b) Requirements.--In conducting the study required under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review the
following:
(1) The extent to which each eligible Federal agency is
submitting programmatic data to the Broadband Funding Map
adequately and in compliance with section 60105 of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704),
including identification of any--
(A) successful best practices in submitting such data to
the Commission; and
(B) challenges resulting in incomplete data submissions
from an agency or individual program to the Commission.
(2) The proficiency of the Commission's management of the
Broadband Funding Map and related interagency collaboration.
(3) Whether the Commission has sufficient authority to
collect the necessary data from Federal agencies to populate
the Broadband Funding Map.
(4) The respective data collection efforts of NTIA pursuant
to the ACCESS BROADBAND Act (47 U.S.C. 1307) and section
60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47
U.S.C. 1704).
(5) The effectiveness of coordination among the Commission,
NTIA, and other relevant Federal agencies that provide
funding for broadband infrastructure deployment, including
the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and
Human Services, the Department of the Treasury, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the
Institute of Museum and Library Services, pursuant to section
60105(g) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47
U.S.C. 1704(g)).
(6) How enhanced use of the Broadband Funding Map by
relevant Federal agencies could improve taxpayer savings.
(7) The feasibility and potential benefits of incorporating
third-party mapping data into the Broadband Funding Map.
Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and that the bill,
as amended, be considered read a third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was
agreed to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read
the third time.
Mrs. FISCHER. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
If not, the bill having been read the third time, the question is,
Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 2585), as amended, was passed.
Mrs. FISCHER. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider
be
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considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mrs. FISCHER. I yield the floor.
____________________