Chairman Pai's Response to Senators Wicker, Thune, Blunt, Fischer, Moran, Johnson, Blackburn and Young Regarding a Proposal to Establish a 5G Fund for Rural America

On March 9, 2020,  Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Fischer (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Todd Young (R-IN) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai expressing concern as to having reliable underlying coverage data used to determine funding eligibility for a 5G fund for rural America. They urged the FCC to focus on ensuring that accurate data is available — including updates to the collection of coverage data as outline in the Broadband DATA Act. 

On April 17, 2020, Chairman Pai responded by saying in order for the Broadband DATA Act to live up to its full potential, "it remains critical that Congress appropriate the necessary funding for the Commission to implement the requirements" of the legislation. "I look forward to working with you and Congress in general to fund this broadband mapping initiative." He went on to explain the 5G Fund that was proposed at the FCC meeting on April 23.