Sen Manchin Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Broadband Deployment Using Accurate Coverage Maps

Sens Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced the Rural Wireless Access Act of 2017. This legislation would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to collect broadband coverage data that is valid, consistent, and robust. This standardized data is necessary to ensure that policies to expand broadband deployment accurately target the unserved and underserved communities and account for the mobile coverage experience of those living in the most remote parts of the country. Other original cosponsors include Sens Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Gary Peters (D-MI).

This bill would direct the FCC to establish a methodology to:
Ensure that wireless coverage data is collected in a consistent and robust way;
Improve the validity and reliability of wireless coverage data;
Increase the efficiency of wireless coverage data collection.