U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously approved a bill to improve the quality of federal and state broadband data collection and encourage initiatives that promote broadband deployment.

“Broadband communications are fast becoming the great economic engine of our time,” said Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii). “The first step toward securing broadband for all Americans is getting better broadband data.”

The Broadband Data Improvement Act (S. 1492) was introduced by Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and cosponsored by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), and Barack Obama (D-Ill.). S. 1492 now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

The Broadband Data Improvement Act specifically would:

Direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to decide whether the current 200 kilobit standard for broadband—which was adopted in 1999—should be revised. It also would require the FCC to revise its broadband reporting form to help identify which service tiers can be used by consumers to reliably receive high-definition video content.

Direct the FCC to revise existing broadband reporting obligations to require providers to report the actual numbers of broadband connections either within a census tract, 9-digit postal zip code, or 5-digit postal zip code. Under the current system, if there is a single subscriber in a 5-digit zip code, it is assumed there is broadband availability to all within the 5-digit zip code.

Direct the FCC to conduct inquiries into the deployment of advanced telecommunications services on an annual, rather than periodic, basis.

Direct the Census Bureau to include a question in its American Community Survey that assesses levels of residential computer use and determines levels of dial-up versus broadband Internet subscribership.

Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to develop broadband measurements that may be used to provide consumers with broadband connection cost and capability information and improve the process of comparing the deployment and penetration of broadband in the United States with other countries.

Direct the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy to conduct a study evaluating the impact of broadband speed and price on small businesses.

Authorize a 5-year, $40 million per year program that would provide matching grants to state non-profit, public-private partnerships in support of efforts to more accurately identify barriers to broadband adoption throughout the state.

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Public Information Office: 508 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg • Washington, DC 20510-6125
Tel: 202-224-5115
Hearing Room: 253 Russell Senate Office Bldg • Washington, DC 20510-6125
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