Broadband DATA Act and Secure 5G and Beyond Act may transform rural internet access

In the wake of trillion-dollar stimulus packages, the signing of House Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta's (R-OH) Broadband DATA Act and Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020 on March 23 received little fanfare. But the acts are likely to spur an invisible transformation for rural communities, Rep Latta said.  “The reality is, many Americans across the country and Ohioans in the district I represent who live in rural areas don’t have reliable internet connectivity. If that doesn’t change, they will be left behind.” Rep Latta, discussing the Broadband DATA Act, said, “As members (of Congress) in our districts, I’m in my car all the time. I’m looking a map of internet access and it’s not even close. I’m talking to people all the time and they are saying they don’t have (internet access) here. There’s no reason for the FCC to put money into something if you don’t know if it’s accurate to begin with.”

The timing of the two broadband bills is also important, for funding. Addressing coronavirus economic losses, the CARES act will be pumping $100 million into the FCC, $13.5 billion to K-12 education, $14.5 billion to higher education and $75 billion to healthcare and hospitals. Small businesses, local governments and farmers will benefit from the infrastructure improvements as a byproduct of the broadband internet infrastructure money for telehealth and education. It won’t be immediate, but they are building the maps now, Rep Latta said.