Legislation that would force all new federally funded roads and highways to include plastic broadband conduit pipes during construction in areas where there is a “demonstrated need” or an anticipated need in the next 15 years, is now winding its way around Capitol Hill. Co-sponsored by broadcaster-turned-politician Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR.) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA),
“Paving the way for smoother deployment of state-of-the-art-broadband networks has long been a goal for our subcommittee. This legislation meets that goal and makes it easier to connect more Americans to this vital 21st century resource,” Broadcasting & Cable reported Walden as saying.
“Today our information highways are just as important as our interstate highways,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), who has been pushing for such legislation since at least 2009. “By laying broadband conduit during construction of roads that receive federal funding, broadband providers can later install fiber-optic cable without costly excavation of newly-built roads. ‘Dig once’ is a commonsense bipartisan policy that will significantly reduce the cost of broadband deployment in our country.”
Walden, chairman of House Communications Subcommittee along with Eshoo, the ranking member are gaining support for their “Dig Once” broadband deployment bill, the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act of 2015, reports B&C.
On Friday, Jonathan Adelstein, the President and CEO of PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association, said “PCIA commends Chairman Greg Walden and Ranking Member Anna Eshoo for introducing bipartisan legislation to facilitate broadband deployment. Their bipartisan bill recognizes the clear nexus between economic growth and broadband. Given the capital intensity of building broadband networks, taking full advantage of existing highway construction and repair will advance broadband deployment in a smart and efficient way.
“PCIA supports this bill and looks forward to working with its sponsors and with Congress toward getting it enacted.”
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