Reps. Long and Kustoff Introduce Internet Exchange Act

Reps Billy Long (R-MO-7) and David Kustoff (R-TN-8) introduced H.R. 7112, the Internet Exchange (IX) Act. The bill aims to strengthen Internet access in rural and other underserved areas by promoting more Internet Exchanges across the country. IXs are one of the building blocks around which the Internet is built. They are the physical locations where networks come together, and where content providers place content closer to end users to increase the speed and efficiency of networks. Currently, there are dozens of IXs nationwide but most of them are concentrated in big cities and in the coastal states. The IX Act would authorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to administer a grant program that will establish or expand IX facilities and allow eligible E-rate (schools and libraries) and Telehealth program recipients to use available support to fund connections to and maintenance of points of presence at IX facilities. Increasing the number of IXs across the country will result in a more resilient, competitive, and interconnected web (especially for households in more rural areas).