Save the Internet Act of 2019

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. STANTON. Mr. Chairman, access to high-speed internet is absolutely essential in today's economy. It is the key component to our Nation's innovation infrastructure.

Yet, on Tribal lands across this country, a digital divide exists. According to the estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, only 53 percent of Native Americans living on Tribal lands have access to high-speed internet, compared to 82 percent of households nationally.

A recent report by the Government Accountability Office examined how the Federal Communications Commission collects, validates, and uses data on broadband availability. It found that the FCC overstates the availability of broadband internet service on Tribal lands.

For example, if a service provider reports that it could provide broadband service internet access to at least one location in a census block, the FCC considers broadband to be ``available'' in that census block. That doesn't make much sense, and the GAO agreed.

It found that the FCC's available status is applied too broadly, sometimes including communities without infrastructure that connects homes to a service provider's network.

It also found that the FCC does not collect information on factors such as affordability, quality, and denials of service. FCC data that accurately captures the availability of broadband is critical because the Federal Government relies on the data to make important investments.

Without accurate data, the Federal Government will have difficulties identifying the true needs and cannot make appropriate investments. Part of the challenge in the lack of reliable data stems from the lack of meaningful consultation and engagement with Tribal Nations.

Tribal consultation is more than just checking a box. It is important for the FCC to not only listen to Tribes, but to actively engage and learn from them. Only by doing so will we be better able to get information on where the needs are. That will lead to better decisions and better outcomes.

My amendment would implement one of the GAO's recommendations. It would direct the FCC to seek feedback from Tribal stakeholders and providers on the effectiveness of its Tribal consultation, as well as ensure accessible and affordable broadband on Tribal lands.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. STANTON. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments from Congressman Walden.

I would say, in this particular case with this particular amendment, this is not the government asking for information from entities that don't want to provide it. Just the opposite, the Tribal communities in my State and across the United States of America want to provide this information and want this very detailed consultation with the FCC so that we can provide better investments on Tribal lands.

This is a situation where government involvement is very much welcomed by the entities that we are asking the FCC to better consult with. This is welcome government intervention.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Michael F. Doyle).

Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I would say to my good friend, Mr. Walden, and he is my good friend, that if you think the President's plan to nationalize 5G is a bad idea--and I kind of recall the gentleman saying that. As recently as yesterday, the administration in its campaign is still talking about nationalizing 5G. Perhaps it is time to get on the phone or to stand up here on the House floor publicly and talk about some action that we can take as a Congress to make sure that the White House doesn't nationalize 5G.

With the amendment before us, bridging the digital divide is one of the great challenges the FCC faces today. The Save the Internet Act is going to give the FCC new tools to address that digital divide.

Although broadband technologies keep getting better, they are not reaching everyone, especially those in remote areas, like Native Americans living on Tribal lands. These populations face unique challenges in getting high-speed internet access service. That is why it is critical that the FCC focus on identifying and addressing obstacles to getting high-speed internet onto reservations and Tribal lands.

This amendment would instruct the FCC to work more closely with Native Americans to help connect Tribal lands. This amendment is particularly important because of the Trump FCC's illegal attempt to reduce support for the Lifeline program to Tribal communities. This decision was ultimately found to be illegal by the courts. However, it is critical that the Commission talk and listen to the people who understand the problems and represent the communities lacking broadband.

Mr. Chairman, I support this commonsense amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. STANTON. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source