Rep McKinley Introduces Rural Broadband Fairness Bill

Rep David McKinley (R-WV) has introduced a bill that would require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a standard for whether wireless and wired broadband services in rural areas are reasonably comparable to those in urban areas.

The bill would "direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations that establish a national standard for determining whether mobile and broadband services available in rural areas are reasonably comparable to those services provided in urban areas." The bill, the Rural Reasonable and Comparable Wireless Act of 2017 (HR 2903), has been referred to the House Energy & Commerce Committee. The bill is co-sponsored by Rep Peter Welch (D-VT).