Broadband Buildout Accountability Act would Increase Transparency in Public Investment in Broadband Deployment

Sen Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced the Broadband Buildout Accountability Act with Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) to increase transparency for a $42 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package (BIF) broadband buildout grant awarded to the National Technology Information Administration (NTIA), which is currently exempted from transparency requirements under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The bill would remove the FOIA exemption and require proof of how the $42 billion is spent to ensure taxpayer dollars are not misused. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), and Todd Young (R-IN) have also cosponsored the bill.