Congressional Research Service
FCC’s National Broadband Map: Implications for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Access to high-speed internet (i.e., broadband) has been a focus of congressional interest for decades as a significant—and growing—number of daily activities are conducted online. However, without accurate data, broadband maps may not reliably indicate need, and federal assistance may be provided to areas that already have sufficient service, leaving other areas unserved or underserved. The accuracy of the National Broadband Map is a key concern for many in Congress.
Congress Expands Buy America Requirements in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Domestic content preference laws, which require that certain goods purchased with federal funds be manufactured primarily in the United States, have received increased attention from both Congress and the executive branch in recent years. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act made changes to “Buy America” requirements for federally funded infrastructure projects. Buy America requirements traditionally extend to publicworks transportation and water-related infrastructure.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit: Implementation and Future Policy Directions
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program stakeholders adopted a variety of positions on specific issues, with attention coalescing around several points:
State Broadband Initiatives: Selected State and Local Approaches as Potential Models for Federal Initiatives to Address the Digital Divide
To further assist in closing the digital divide, states have been developing their own broadband programs and initiatives. Although many state broadband initiatives focus on building out broadband infrastructure, states have also been considering other factors. As each state approaches broadband access and deployment differently, this report analyzes selected state-level and local initiatives that have tried different approaches—approaches that may serve as models for future federal broadband initiatives.
COVID-19 and Broadband: Potential Implications for the Digital Divide
According to the Federal Communications Commission’s 2019 Broadband Deployment Report, approximately 21.3 million Americans lack a broadband connection speed of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download/3 Mbps upload, which is the FCC’s benchmark for high-speed broadband. In the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, federal, local, and state governments, in addition to large and small businesses, are considering remote working or distance learning options to help abate the spread of the virus.
Demand for Broadband in Rural Areas: Implications for Universal Access
As of 2019, over 20 million Americans—predominantly those living in rural areas—lacked access to high-speed broadband service according to the Federal Communications Commission. Federal subsidies underwritten by taxpayer funds and long-distance telephone subscriber fees have injected billions of dollars into rural broadband markets over the past decade—mostly on the supply side in the form of grants, loans, and direct support to broadband providers.
Tribal Broadband: Status of Deployment and Federal Funding Programs
Because the presence of robust broadband and improved digital connectivity in tribal areas could play a significant role in revitalizing many tribal communities, the federal government continues to provide some financial assistance to tribal lands for broadband deployment. Tribal entities and projects in tribal areas are eligible for virtually all federal broadband programs. With a few exceptions, however, there are no carve-outs or dedicated funding streams specifically for tribal applicants or nontribal entities proposing to serve tribal lands.
Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs
With the conclusion of the grant and loan awards established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, there remain two primary ongoing federal vehicles which direct federal money to fund broadband infrastructure: the broadband and telecommunications programs at the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Universal Service Fund (USF) programs under the Federal Communications Commission. RUS broadband programs were reauthorized and modified by the 2018 farm bill.
The Net Neutrality Debate: Access to Broadband Networks
The announcement that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai offered a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to reexamine the rules adopted in 2015, with an eye to considering a less regulatory approach, has once again opened up the debate over what the appropriate framework is to ensure an open Internet. Reaction to this draft proposal has been mixed. Some see the current FCC rules as regulatory overreach and welcome a more “light-touch” approach which they feel will stimulate broadband investment, deployment and innovation. Others fully support the current 2015 regulations and feel that their modification will result in a concentration of power to the detriment of content, services, and applications providers, as well as consumers, and refute the claim that these regulations have had a negative impact on broadband investment, expansion or innovation).
The FCC’s move to reexamine its existing open Internet rules has reopened the debate over whether Congress should consider a more comprehensive measure to amend existing law to provide greater regulatory stability and guidance to the FCC. Whether Congress will choose to address more comprehensive legislation, to amend the 1934 Communications Act, to provide a broad-based framework for such regulation, remains to be seen.