Broadband
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
March 28, 2022 - Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) last week sent letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other relevant agencies requesting an update on progress in coordinating the creation of the Deployment Locations Map.
Last year, the Senators secured the inclusion of an amendment in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that required the FCC to consult with relevant federal agencies to develop the Deployment Locations Map, a publicly accessible interactive map that would display the network locations of broadband infrastructure projects funded by the federal government.
The goal of the mapping tool is to enhance transparency, maximize responsible use of federal dollars among different agencies and avoid network overbuilding – ensuring funding reaches as many households as possible that are in need of internet connectivity.
“Absent a transparent overview of where this federal funding is going, it will be increasingly difficult for federal agencies to distribute resources where they are needed most, and without duplication. This is essential as more funding is invested in closing the digital divide,” wrote the Senators. “We look forward to your answers on the progress of the Commission’s role in creating the Deployment Locations Map, as we seek to ensure its timely and successful completion.”
The letter is part of Cortez Masto and Fischer’s broader effort to ensure the FCC and all other relevant federal agencies are making timely progress in their implementation of the Deployment Locations Map.
The senators also sent letters requesting progress updates to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Treasury Department, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The full letter to the FCC is available here.
As part of her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has led in the Senate to improve broadband access, including in rural communities, and strengthen Nevada’s economy. Most recently, she advocated for provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure law to invest in broadband. In 2020, she passed her bipartisan ACCESS BROADBAND Act to foster the development and growth of broadband resources for businesses, as well as underserved urban and rural communities in Nevada, through improved access and transparency of federal broadband programs.
Source: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
