Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 1328, the Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act, or the ACCESS BROADBAND Act.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank my good friend, Representative Brooks, for partnering with me on this legislation. I also thank the bipartisan group of Members who have cosponsored and supported this legislation, including the many members of the Energy and Commerce Committee who agree that these simple steps can make a big difference for the local communities that our Federal broadband programs are meant for.

Let me be clear: This bill is about serving the people. While a number of valuable Federal broadband initiatives exist, they are siloed in different agencies and are not often coordinated with one another. As a result, the process for local community and business leaders can be confusing.

H.R. 1328, the ACCESS BROADBAND Act, would establish a coordinating office for Federal broadband resources by creating an Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the Department of Commerce.

Helping these constituents gain access to broadband internet in the capital region is one of the reasons I sought to join the Energy and Commerce Committee and why I have worked to advance this legislation.

Access to high-speed broadband internet service is increasingly essential. Today, people rely on baseline internet access for banking, to find a job, to do their homework, to communicate with their doctor or other healthcare provider, to communicate with their loved ones, to petition their government, and so much more. Yet, many Americans still do not have reliable high-speed internet service at home.

While a number of valuable Federal broadband initiatives exist, they are siloed in different agencies and are not often coordinated with one another. As a result, the process for local community and business leaders can be confusing.

H.R. 1328, the Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act, or ACCESS BROADBAND Act, would establish a coordinating office.

This new office would hold regional workshops to share best practices and strategies for supporting local business and community leaders interested in expanding broadband access and its adoption.

Our bill would also direct the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth to consult with any agency offering Federal broadband support to streamline the application process and, to the greatest extent practicable, to create one universal application regardless of which Federal agency or office is involved.

Most importantly, this new office, Mr. Speaker, will be charged with coordinating broadband support provided by all of our Federal agencies that are working to solve this problem, including support offered at the Federal Communications Commission and the Rural Utility Service at the Department of Agriculture.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that nothing in this act would alter or amend any provision of the section of law that authorizes the FCC's Universal Service Fund.

H.R. 1328 is an important bill that would indeed help speed up broadband deployment to unserved and underserved areas and promote broadband adoption.

There is still much more work to be done on this issue, and I do hope that this can serve as a starting place for us to open doors of opportunity and access to millions of Americans by investing in broadband expansion.

Mr. Speaker, I thank all the Members and staff working together on ACCESS BROADBAND to help ensure that our communities can access the broadband resources that they need to grow and prosper.

The ACCESS BROADBAND Act is a bipartisan, commonsense bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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