The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology has scheduled a markup on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building to consider a legislative package to improve broadband infrastructure and H.R. 1641, the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act.
“Broadband Internet has transformed the way we all communicate and conduct business. Working to make sure every American has access to these benefits has long been a goal of this subcommittee," said full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR). “By reducing barriers to broadband deployment and making additional spectrum available for consumers, these bipartisan proposals will help make access to 21st century technology a reality for all Americans, boost job creation, and spur economic growth across the country."
The legislative package to promote broadband infrastructure deployment, authored by full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Walden, and subcommittee Ranking Member Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), combines six proposals previously reviewed by the subcommittee that will:
* Require the installation of broadband conduit in any federally funded highway project where the Department of Transportation, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission finds the capacity will be needed in the next 15 years. This is also known as the “Dig-Once" provision, authored by Walden and Eshoo.
* Require federal agencies to use the common forms, contracts, and fee schedules developed by the Government Services Administration under the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2012.
* Expand access to pole attachments for broadband deployment.
* Create an inventory of federal broadband assets and assign responsibility for the tracking of federal permit applications for broadband facilities and hold the federal government accountable for the speed of permitting by locating responsibility with the Senior Real Property Officer of each landholding agency.
* Require agencies to streamline their permitting processes for locating broadband facilities.
* Streamline the federal requirements for historical and environmental impact evaluations of broadband facilities.
H.R. 1641, the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act, authored by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Doris Matsui (D-CA), aims to incentivize federal agencies to free up additional spectrum for commercial use by relocating and consolidating spectrum holdings in return for a portion of the auction revenues.
A background memorandum and electronic copies of the bills can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. Amendments, and votes will be available at the same link as they are posted.
