Senate Commerce Sets July 10 Markup of Broadband Data Act, Other Tech Bills

The Senate Commerce Committee plans to mark up the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (Data) Act (S-1822) and three other tech-related measures as part of a July 10 executive session, the committee said Wednesday. S-1822 would require the FCC issue rules to collect more “granular” broadband coverage data and a “user-friendly challenge process” allowing participation by consumers, governments and others (see 1906130029). The other tech measures set for markup are the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act (S-153), the Blockchain Promotion Act (S-553) and the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (Digit) Act (S-1611). S-153 would require the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish an interagency working group to coordinate federal programs aimed at training and transitioning military veterans to jobs in science, tech, engineering and math. S-553 would direct the Commerce Department to create a working group of federal and private sector stakeholders to establish a common definition of blockchain. The working group also would make recommendations on a joint FCC-NTIA study to, in part, examine blockchain's potential impact on spectrum policy (see 1906130029). S-1611 would convene a working group of federal entities and stakeholders to provide recommendations to Congress on how to facilitate growth of IoT technologies. Senate Commerce plans to vote on advancing the nomination of Stephen Dickson as FAA administrator. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in Hart 216, the committee said.