The Senate Commerce Committee plans to vote on three broadband bills this Wednesday. Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) hopes to pass the PLAN for Broadband Act (S. 2238), the Network Equipment Transparency Act (S.690) and the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2023 (S. 275).
Four previous attempts to schedule votes to pass proposals to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program failed because of disputes between GOP and Democratic committee members, Inside Towers reported.
The bipartisan PLAN ACT would require the Biden administration “to develop a national strategy to close the digital divide and a plan to implement that strategy,” according to co-sponsors Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). The House passed its version of the bill, sponsored by Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Annie Kuster (D-NH) in May.
The Network Equipment Transparency Act requires the FCC to determine whether the lack of network gear “significantly impacted” broadband deployment and other advanced telecom capabilities. Sen John Hickenlooper (D-CO) sponsored the measure.
Under the Rural Broadband Protection Act, the FCC would have to establish a vetting and verification process to ensure that ISPs that receive federal support have “a proven track record of success and have demonstrated sound judgment in deploying in hard-to-serve areas,” stated sponsors Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The bill would apply to ISPs receiving funds from the FCC’s high-cost program within the $8.1 billion Universal Service Fund, according to Broadband Breakfast.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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