The PROTOCOL Act: Improving Broadband Mapping and Funding Oversight

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This bill changes how federal agencies approve broadband projects by requiring them to use a standardized map, which could impact which entities receive funding and how effectively broadband expansion is tracked across states.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

State governments

States must compile and submit annual reports on broadband deployment and subgrant awards to the federal government.

Federal agencies providing broadband funding

These agencies are required to use the FCC's Deployment Locations Map when making funding awards.

Broadband infrastructure providers

Providers receiving federal or state support will have their project data, including funding amounts and service locations, tracked in a centralized federal database.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

The PROTOCOL Act requires federal agencies to use a centralized map when awarding broadband funding and mandates that states report their broadband deployment data to the federal government. These changes aim to create a more detailed, searchable database of where and how broadband infrastructure money is being spent across the country.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

This bill changes how federal agencies approve broadband projects by requiring them to use a standardized map, which could impact which entities receive funding and how effectively broadband expansion is tracked across states.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information will be added to the broadband maps?

The maps will now include details such as the federal agency of jurisdiction, the type of network (e.g., fiber, satellite, mobile), the name of the entity receiving support, the amount of federal and matching funds, project timelines, and required upload/download speeds.

How does this affect state governments?

States will be required to submit annual reports to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce detailing where broadband was deployed using federal or state support and listing any s provided to other entities.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Mandatory Map Usage

The bill shifts from encouraging the use of the FCC map to making its use mandatory for all federal agencies when awarding broadband funding.

Federal Communications Commission

Connected Entities

organizationFederal Communications Commission (FCC)“Responsible for the Deployment Locations Map”Map →

bill_numberACCESS BROADBAND Act“The other primary legislation being amended”Map →

bill_number9450“Bill number”Map →

personPfluger, John“Introducer of the bill”Map →

bill_numberInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act“The primary legislation being amended”Map →

bill_numberH.R. 9450“The bill itself”Map →

organizationNational Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)“Manages the broadband infrastructure funding database”Map →

personDingell, Elissa“Co-sponsor of the bill”Map →

organizationU.S. Government Publishing Office“Source of the document”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level