House Passes Veterans Broadband Access Bill

The House has passed a bill with a directive likely to get action in a Trump Federal Communications Commission given the President-elect's commitment to helping out veterans. The Improving Broadband Access for Veterans Act of 2016 (HR 6394) passed the House on suspension of the rules, a way to fast-track noncontroversial bills that limits debate, prevents amendments, and requires a 2/3 majority for passage.

It requires the FCC to study and report back to Congress on the availability of broadband access to veterans. The FCC has a year from enactment--the bill still needs to pass the Senate and be signed by the President--to report back to Congress on access, particularly for low-income vets and ones living in rural areas, where there is the toughest business case for building out networks. But the FCC would have to do more than produce a state of the marketplace report. Congress wants recommendations on how to promote access. The FCC won't have the full year to work on the report. It is required to put it out for public comment before submitting it.