WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH) released the following statement on bipartisan bills to improve broadband mapping that passed the House today.
“The first step in expanding broadband to communities in America who lack adequate access is to understand exactly where those communities are. These bipartisan bills will help us assess the availability of internet across our country and take the necessary steps to improve connectivity for all Americans, regardless of their zip code. Importantly, these bills will help ensure we are not repeating past mistakes and are directing our limited resources to the communities who need them most. We look forward to swift action in the Senate to send these bipartisan bills to President Trump’s desk," Walden and Latta said.
Today the House passed the following bills:
H.R. 4229, the “Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act" or the “Broadband DATA Act," introduced by Energy and Commerce Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA): This legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue new rules to require the collection and dissemination of granular broadband availability data and to establish a process to verify the accuracy of such data, and more.
H.R. 4227, the “Mapping Accuracy Promotion Services Act" or the “MAPS Act," introduced by Energy and Commerce Reps. Billy Long (R-MO) and A. Donald McEachin (D-VA): This legislation specifies that it is unlawful for a person to willfully, knowingly, or recklessly submit inaccurate broadband service data.
