WASHINGTON, DC - Continuing its ongoing efforts to protect jobs and small businesses, the House Energy and Commerce Committee today approved H.R. 4596, the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act. The bipartisan legislation, authored by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), seeks to protect small businesses from enhanced transparency requirements included in the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet Order. During today’s proceedings, a bipartisan amendment offered by Walden and Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA), was adopted. Both the amendment and H.R. 4596 were approved by voice vote.
“Today, we put small businesses and consumers first with bipartisan support for this commonsense proposal," said Walden. “Two goals central to this committee’s mission were reached: relieving regulatory burdens for small businesses and protecting consumers."
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) added, “This bipartisan bill protects small businesses from the burdensome enhanced transparency requirements that were part of the FCC’s Open Internet Order. These companies will be able to use their resources to provide service to consumers instead of dealing with Washington red tape."
The bipartisan amendment to H.R. 4596 extends the small business exemption for five years, defines small businesses as internet service providers with 250,000 subscribers or less, and requires an FCC report about the definition of small businesses and the future of this exemption.
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