Walden, Latta Seek COVID-19-Focused Broadband Connectivity Hearing

House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Communications Subcommittee ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, want committee Democratic leaders to hold a hearing on ways to improve broadband access, saying the pandemic “amplified the need for connectivity, as millions of Americans transition to working remotely.” The House passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act last month (see 2005180056). HR-6800’s broadband funding includes an $8.8 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund and $5 billion for E-rate (see 2005130059). House Communications examined broadband access during a January hearing (see 2001290052), but an additional hearing is needed “as soon as possible” because the pandemic “brought to light the consequences for the millions of Americans who did not have access to broadband in their communities before the current crisis,” Walden and Latta said Thursday in a letter to House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa. “It is critical to examine potential solutions to close the homework gap and simultaneously take steps to reduce regulatory barriers to close the digital divide. These actions will promote competition and broadband infrastructure deployment that will long outlast the current crisis.” House Commerce didn’t comment Friday.