The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on Improving National Broadband Maps
Record date · January 1, 2021
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing on September 11, 2019, to discuss legislative proposals aimed at improving the accuracy of national internet availability maps. The session featured testimony from industry representatives and policy experts regarding several bills designed to refine how broadband data is collected and reported.
The accuracy of these maps determines where federal funding for high-speed internet expansion is directed, directly impacting which communities receive infrastructure investment.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Rural broadband providers
These providers are subject to new data reporting requirements proposed in the legislation.
Internet service providers
The legislation mandates changes to how these companies report their service coverage areas.
Residents in unserved areas
Improved mapping accuracy may change the allocation of federal infrastructure funding for their communities.
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on September 11, 2019, by the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
- The primary focus was the evaluation of five specific legislative proposals: H.R. 4229, H.R. 4128, H.R. 4227, H.R. 2643, and H.R. 3162.
- The hearing included testimony from six witnesses representing rural broadband providers, cable associations, cellular carriers, public interest groups, and data analytics firms.
- The discussion centered on the technical challenges of mapping broadband availability and the impact of data accuracy on federal funding allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are broadband maps considered inaccurate?
What is the goal of the proposed legislation?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools