House of Representatives

Rep Antonio Delgado (D-NY-19) announced a package of legislation aimed at addressing flawed broadband mapping practices and increasing speed standards in rural communities. Additionally, one of Rep. Delgado’s proposals would empower local communities to accurately assess who has access to broadband and at what speeds and who has been left behind by the digital divide. The legislative package is comprised of two bills that empower communities to improve flawed broadband mapping procedures.

Rep Jerry McNerney (D-CA-09) introduced HR 4486, the Digital Equity Act of 2019, along with his colleagues Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-NM-03) and Rep Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-09), Vice-Chair of the House Commerce Committee. The legislation seeks to close gaps in broadband adoption and promote digital skills training and digital literacy. ​The Digital Equity Act would establish two grant programs that would be administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to promote digital equity nationwide.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) introduced the Modern Television Act of 2019, a bill to repeal outdated regulations of the 1992 Cable Act, including retransmission consent and compulsory copyright license, to increase competition in the TV marketplace and to better address perennial broadcast TV blackouts. The legislation:

Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) introduced a bipartisan bill, the Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act, to require the Bureau of Economic Analysis to conduct a study of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the U.S. economy. The legislation empowers policymakers to make more informed decisions about broadband, connecting underserved communities and keeping America competitive in a digital world.

Fourteen Members of Congress wrote to the Federal Communications Commission to express concerns about a proposal to cap the Universal Service Fund. They say imposing a cap would unnecessarily cut funding to USF programs and would force each of the programs to compete for funding. They remind the FCC commissioners that the House unanimously voted to prohibit implementation of this proposed rule.

Rep Doris Matsui (D-CA), vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, released the “WIN 5G Act”. This draft legislation proposes a consensus-based, compromise approach to rapidly and equitably reallocating spectrum between the frequencies of 3.7 GHz-4.2 GHz, commonly referred to as the “C-band”.

Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Billy Long (R-MO), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai asking that he move forward soon with a proceeding that takes a fresh look at the 5.9 GHz band. “We write to urge you to move forward with a rulemaking proceeding to take a fresh look at the 5.9 GHz band. Given the increasing demands for spectrum, it is crucial that we use this precious and finite resource in an efficient way,” the Members wrote.