Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA)

Access to internet service is meaningless to consumers if the cost of signing up is a barrier

We write in support of your ongoing focus on internet affordability as you work to administer the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  For years, Democrats and Republicans expressed concern over the digital divide, and the $42 billion investment in the BEAD Program gives us a real opportunity to finally bridge this divide and connect every American to high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet.

Reps. Davidson, Eshoo Introduce The Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Surveillance Act

Reps. Warren Davidson (R-OH) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced legislation to protect Americans’ data from being exploited by unfriendly foreign nations, and apply tough criminal and civil penalties to prevent employees of foreign corporations like TikTok from accessing US data from abroad. This bill:

Rep. Eshoo, Sen. Booker Introduce Bill to Expand Internet Access and Protect Local Communities’ Broadband Networks

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Community Broadband Act to improve internet and broadband access across the country by removing roadblocks prohibiting local communities from building their own broadband networks. Twenty-one states have passed laws that either restrict or outright prohibit local communities from investing local dollars in building their own broadband networks.

Reps. Hudson and Eshoo Introduce Bill to Modernize Nation’s Aging 9-1-1 Systems

US Reps. Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, introduced the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act to accelerate federal efforts to modernize the nation's aging 9-1-1 systems. The Next Generation 9-1-1 Act, which passed the House last Congress, would authorize $15 billion in federal funding to help state and local governments deploy Next Generation 9-1-1 systems across the country.

House Lawmakers Urge Biden Administration to Co-Locate Broadband and EV Charging Infrastructure

Reps Anna G Eshoo (D-CA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) led a letter to Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Secretary Jennifer Granholm, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information at the National Telecommunications and Information (NTIA) Alan Davidson, urging them to use funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to build out broadband and electric vehicle charging infrastructure simultaneously.

Reps Eshoo and Lofgren Reintroduce Sweeping Privacy Legislation

Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) reintroduced the Online Privacy Act, legislation that creates user data rights, places limitations and obligations on companies collecting and using user data, and establishes the Digital Privacy Agency (DPA) to enforce privacy laws. The updated legislation includes several improved provisions and additional privacy protections, including adding an Office of Civil Rights in the DPA and authorizing state privacy regulators to enforce the legislation alongside state attorneys general. Major provisions of the Online Privacy Act include:

Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Bolster Transparency of Political Advertising

Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and John Yarmuth (D-KY) introduced the Fair and Clear Campaign (FCC) Transparency Act (H.R.5897) to require the Federal Communications Commission to modernize reporting requirements related to political advertising aired by broadcasters by making reports machine-readable. The FCC currently requires TV and radio broadcast stations to publicly report broadcast time sold or given away for political advertising.

Senate Unanimously Passes Secure Equipment Act of 2021

The US Senate unanimously passed the Secure Equipment Act of 2021 (H.R.3919), introduced in June by Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Steve Scalise (R-LA), that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from reviewing or issuing new equipment licenses to companies on the FCC’s “Covered Equipment or Services List” that pose a national security threat.  The Secure Equipment Act would prevent equipment manufacture

House Commerce Committee Democrats Announce Legislation to Reform Section 230

House Energy and Commerce Committee Representatives introduced new legislation to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields websites and online platforms from being held liable for third-party content. Senior Member Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA), and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) announced the bill.

Rep Eshoo Calls for Subpoena of Facebook Documents

Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA), senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, called on the Committee to subpoena documents from Facebook related to recent whistleblower complaints and testimony. “Frances Haugen courageously exposed what we've long suspected: Facebook has known the harm caused by their platform and has done nothing about it," stated Eshoo. "The Energy and Commerce Committee must subpoena all documents from Facebook related to Ms.

Support From 45 Groups for Bill to Expand Community Broadband

Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep Jared Golden (D-ME) and Sen Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced that 45 groups representing consumers, civil rights, industry, municipalities, and utilities are supporting the Community Broadband Act, legislation that will empower local communities to ensure their residents have broadband access by removing roadblocks for public-private partnerships and locally-owned broadband systems.

A Bill to Expand Internet Access and Protect Local Communities’ Broadband Networks

Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jared Golden (D-ME) and Sen Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Community Broadband Act (H.R.

California Democrats Urge Incoming Attorney General to Prioritize Net Neutrality

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18and 13 members of California’s congressional delegation sent a letter to Attorney General-designate Merrick Garland urging him to withdraw the US federal government’s lawsuit against the State of California over its net neutrality law as one of the first actions after the inauguration. “With the new Administration, we have an opportunity to restore the damage the Trump FCC has done to the free and open internet in the last four years,” said Rep.

Rep Eshoo Blasts FCC Indifference to Public Safety in Latest Net Neutrality Proceeding

Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18), a senior member of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to express her high concerns that the FCC is ignoring its court-mandated obligation to protect public safety in its latest net neutrality repeal order and called on the Chairman to drop the proposal from next week’s open meeting agenda. “California is experiencing the most horrific wildfire season in history, and I’m deeply concerned that the FCC is ignoring its mandate to protect public safety as required by statute and by a federal

Reps. Eshoo and Griffith Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Limit Presidential Powers to Shut Down Internet

Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) announced the Preventing Unwarranted Communications Shutdowns Act, a bipartisan bill to limit presidential powers to control or shut down communications networks, including the internet. The Communications Act currently authorizes the President to take control of communications facilities or equipment in certain circumstances.

Protecting Americans from Dangerous Algorithms

Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18) and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ-7) introduced the Protecting Americans from Dangerous Algorithms Act, legislation to hold large social media platforms accountable for their algorithmic amplification of harmful, radicalizing content that leads to offline violence. The bill narrowly amends Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to remove liability immunity for a platform if its algorithm is used to amplify or recommend content directly relevant to a case involving interference with civil rights (42 U.S.C.

Rep. Eshoo Introduces Legislation to Update National Broadband Plan

Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced the National Broadband Plan for the Future Act, legislation that instructs the Federal Communications Commission to update the National Broadband Plan to expand internet access across the US and study how the coronavirus pandemic has changed the online lives of Americans. “Universal access to reliable, affordable, and high-quality internet is essential in today’s world, and it’s especially needed as we conduct more of our personal and professional lives online during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Rep. Anna G. Eshoo.

Reps. Eshoo, McKinley Announce Nationwide Dig Once Act of 2020

Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and David McKinley (R-WV) announced the introduction of the Nationwide Dig Once Act of 2020, legislation to expand the deployment of broadband internet service to rural and unserved communities across the US. The legislation was adopted by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) as part of H.R. 2, the INVEST in America Act.

Leading Scholars and Organizations Announce Support for Rep. Eshoo’s Bill to Ban Microtargeted Political Ads

Several leading experts and groups announced support for the Banning Microtargeted Political Ads Act (HR 7014), legislation introduced by Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA) to strengthen our democracy by prohibiting microtargeted political ads. Leading privacy and campaign reform scholars Woodrow Hartzog, Shoshana Zuboff, Ashkan Soltani, and G.

Legislation to Support Broadband Connectivity for College Students in Need

Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18), Doris Matsui (D-CA-6), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20),  Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-At-Large), and Alma Adams (D-NC-12) introduced legislation to establish a new program to support college students who are unable to participate in distance learning. The Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act provides $1 billion to colleges and universities to pay for at-home internet connections for students in need.

Reps Eshoo and Young Introduce Bill to Expand Telehealth During Pandemic

House Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep Don Young (R-AK) introduced H.R. 6474, the Healthcare Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act, a bipartisan bill to provide $2 billion to expand telehealth and high-quality internet connectivity at public and nonprofit healthcare facilities, including mobile clinics and temporary health facilities deployed to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Healthcare providers pay an average of over $40,000 per year for broadband connectivity.

Reps Eshoo and Doyle Urge Loosening Rural Health Care Restrictions

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, doctors around the country are turning to telemedicine as a safety precaution to contain the spread of the virus. Virtual visits also enable healthcare facilities to more efficiently handle issues not related to the virus. The Federal Communications Commission's Rural Health Care Program (RHCP) is critical for enabling internet connectivity for rural healthcare facilities that may otherwise not be able to afford it by subsidizing a discount for broadband services.

Reps Eshoo, Lofgren Introduce the Online Privacy Act, Would Establish Digital Privacy Agency

Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the Online Privacy Act of 2019 (HR 4978), sweeping legislation that creates user rights, places obligations on companies to protect users’ data, establishes a new federal agency to enforce privacy protections, and strengthens enforcement of privacy law violations. The Online Privacy Act protects individuals, encourages innovation, and restores trust in technology companies by: