House of Representatives
Rep Meng Introduces $2 Billion Bill to Provide Internet Service to Students During COVID-19 Pandemic
Rep Grace Meng (D-NY) introduced the Emergency Educational Connections Act of 2020 to ensure that students have internet access during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic emergency. The legislation would create a special $2 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund at the Federal Communications Commission to disburse funds to schools and libraries, and Tribal schools and libraries, to purchase Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and internet-connected devices for students and patrons.
Bill To Spur High-Speed Broadband Projects In Rural Communities
A bill to ensure rural and distressed communities can more readily use Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants to develop high-speed broadband access has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY). The Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility (E-BRIDGE) Act (H.R.
Rep Lawrence, Sens Stabenow and Peters Lead Bicameral Letter to Congressional Leadership on Broadband Access Amid Outbreak
The entire Democratic Michigan delegation urged Congressional Leadership to prioritize and provide funding for essential broadband programs to ensure all Americans, especially those most in need, have access to high-speed internet in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Congress considers priorities in the next COVID-19 relief package, the Members of Congress urged the inclusion of robust funding for the following provisions/programs to ensure Americans across the country have access to high-speed internet:
Rep Brindisi Calls on FCC to Protect Customers, End Price Hikes for Internet Service During Pandemic
Rep Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) called on the Federal Communications Commission to do more to protect customers from abusive practices by their Internet service providers (ISPs). In response to requests from local families, Rep Brindisi sent a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, asking that the FCC extend consumer protections for the duration of the public health emergency and also bar ISPs from raising their prices while workers and students are ordered to remain at home.
Reps Shakowsky, King Introduce Legislation to Assist Seniors with Health Care Access and Communications with Loved Ones During COVID-19 Crisis
Reps Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Peter King (R-NY) introduced the Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors (ACCESS) Act. In March, Sens Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) introduced the bill in the Senate (S. 3517). Specifically, the ACCESS Act would:
Reps Eshoo and Young Introduce Bill to Expand Telehealth During Pandemic
House Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep Don Young (R-AK) introduced H.R. 6474, the Healthcare Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act, a bipartisan bill to provide $2 billion to expand telehealth and high-quality internet connectivity at public and nonprofit healthcare facilities, including mobile clinics and temporary health facilities deployed to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Healthcare providers pay an average of over $40,000 per year for broadband connectivity.
Amid COVID-19 Outbreak, Reps. Wittman and Johnson Introduce Bill to Increase Access to Broadband
Reps Rob Wittman (RVA-01), along with Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH-6), announced the Serving Rural America Act. This legislation would create a five-year pilot grant program at the Federal Communications Commission, authorizing $100 million a year for a total of $500 million over five years to expand broadband service to unserved areas of the country. The Coronavirus outbreak across the nation has further emphasized the need for reliable broadband access in every home in America.
House Committee Chairs Request Extension of Public Comment Periods During Coronavirus National Emergency
Fourteen House Committee Chairs sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought requesting an immediate extension of public comment periods, hearings and meetings due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The House Committee leaders asked that OMB direct agencies to extend public comment periods by at least 45 days beyond the end of the declared national emerg
Reps Eshoo and Doyle Urge Loosening Rural Health Care Restrictions
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, doctors around the country are turning to telemedicine as a safety precaution to contain the spread of the virus. Virtual visits also enable healthcare facilities to more efficiently handle issues not related to the virus. The Federal Communications Commission's Rural Health Care Program (RHCP) is critical for enabling internet connectivity for rural healthcare facilities that may otherwise not be able to afford it by subsidizing a discount for broadband services.