Rep Angie Craig Introduces Broadband MAPS Act

Rep Angie Craig (D-MN), a member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, introduced a bill to ensure that investments made by the federal government to expand broadband access are informed by data collection and analysis as required by federal law. The Broadband Measuring Availability and Aligning Policies Task Force Act (Broadband MAPS Act) would establish a task force at the Federal Communications Commission responsible for coordinating and overseeing the creation and maintenance of broadband availability maps of the United States – to determine which areas lack broadband internet access. In 2020, Congress passed a bipartisan bill – the Broadband DATA Act – to ensure that the FCC would produce accurate, reliable broadband maps. In order to fully implement that legislation, Representative Craig is proposing the creation of an interagency task force to oversee the map drawing process and ensure that policymaking decisions are guided by data. The maps overseen by the task force are intended to inform federal investment decisions – ensuring that rural and underserved communities are prioritized in the expansion of broadband internet.