House of Representatives

More than two dozen Members of the House wrote to Congressional leaders requesting that CARES Act funding be eligible for permanent broadband infrastructure construction -- and that Congress provides additional time for the buildout of new infrastructure. 

Reps Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) and Don Young (R-AK), along with Sens Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), wrote to the Federal Communications Commission about its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The lawmakers raised concerns about the FCC’s lack of transparency related to the program and asked several questions about its implementation. They asked FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to answer the following questions no later than July 30:

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.

Rep Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) introduced the Broadband Adoption and Opportunity Act: bipartisan legislation to leverage public-private partnerships to refurbish internet-capable devices for students and underserved families through donation, lending, or low-cost purchasing programs. The bill is cosponsored by Rep Bill Johnson (R-OH).

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC), members of the House Rural Broadband Task Force, and House Democrats introduced the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act (HR 7302). The bill would invest $100 billion to build high-speed broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities and ensure that the resulting internet service is affordable. The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act would do the following:

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.