Rep Tonko Reintroduces ACCESS BROADBAND Act to Increase Broadband Access in Underserved Areas

Reps Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Susan Brooks (R-IN) announced the introduction of the ACCESS BROADBAND Act (HR 1328), bipartisan legislation that would expand broadband access in underserved areas and create a simpler process for small businesses and local economic developers to access federal broadband resources. The bill would also fund local training workshops to help small businesses and economic developers put federal broadband resources to work. Similar legislation passed in the House in the 115th Congress but was never taken up in the Senate. Rep Tonko said, “Despite its importance, federal resources supporting broadband expansion are poorly tracked with little coordination across agencies or departments that are doing this work, making it harder our local businesses and community leaders to access them. This bill is a step towards better broadband access for our communities and better government for all of us.” A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Doug Jones (D-AL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).