Pai, Hill Telecom Leaders Float More Broadband COVID-19 Proposals

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and top lawmakers weighed in Thursday and Friday with additional broadband legislative proposals aimed at tying into COVID-19 aid legislation and broader infrastructure measures. House Democratic leaders announced plans Thursday to merge existing proposals into a $1.5 trillion Moving Forward Act infrastructure measure that would include $100 billion for broadband (see 2006180062). President Donald Trump’s administration is believed to be preparing a $1 trillion infrastructure proposal that will have funding for 5G infrastructure and rural broadband deployments (see 2006160049).

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., proposed a legislative framework their offices said would “serve as a foundation” for pandemic aid legislation to “modernize the nation’s communications infrastructure, allow all Americans to participate in the digital economy, and enhance U.S. network security, reliability, and resiliency.” It calls for “ensuring that students have access to broadband and necessary technologies to complete their homework remotely” and “establishing programs for individuals and families experiencing economic hardship as a result of” the epidemic. The House-passed Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HR-6800) includes an $8.8 billion Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund and $5 billion for E-rate (see 2005130059).

The framework calls for “fully” funding implementation of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998) to aid companies replacing gear now in U.S. networks from companies determined to threaten national security. The FCC sought $2 billion (see 2003230066). It also seeks funding for broadband mapping efforts, though without specifically citing the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act broadband mapping law (S-1822). The FCC sought $65 million to address that law.

Wicker and Walden seek to work with U.S. carriers voluntarily participating in Pai’s Keep America Connected pledge (see 2003130025). They want to expand broadband access “in minority communities to promote digital equity,” something earlier proposed in the Digital Equity Act (HR-4486/S-1167). The lawmakers seek to streamline “permitting processes,” invest in 911 infrastructure and ensure the FCC’s COVID-19 telehealth program “has the necessary resources.”

Pai endorsed the framework Friday, saying it’s a “forward-thinking proposal” to aid communications companies that participated in the KAC pledge and ensure consumers and businesses “remain connected until this emergency ends.” Pai said in letters to the leaders of the House and Senate Commerce committees and the House and Senate Appropriations Financial Services subcommittees that all providers, “especially small ones, cannot continue to provide service without being paid for an indefinite period of time; no business in any sector of our economy could.” He urged telecom companies not to disconnect customers for not paying bills during July, after the KAC pledge ends June 30 (see 2006190027). The FCC didn’t comment on how many companies committed to Pai’s request.

NTCA hasn’t “had the chance to speak with members about today’s announcement and their respective plans after June 30,” said Senior Vice President Mike Romano in a statement. “Roughly half of those signing onto the pledge were NTCA members and, as hometown providers, they will of course try as best they can to keep their neighbors, friends, and families connected.” NCTA repeatedly “asked Congress for the sort of assistance” Pai seeks in the form of “a program that would enable smaller and rural operators to continue providing vital communications services to Americans even as the customers face difficulty in paying for those services,” Romano said.

The end of the government-prodded pledge "won't fundamentally change what [cable operators] are doing" in taking added steps to keep customers connected, NCTA President Michael Powell said on C-SPAN's The Communicators to have been telecast over the weekend. He said cable companies expanded their low-income broadband service eligibility "and will continue, pledge or no pledge." As the U.S. returns to a more active economy, "we would return to that as well to some degree," while also recognizing the particular economic stress subscribers are under, he said. He added that providers have been developing programs of payment plans to keep people connected. While KAC terms have "not been cost-free to providers," cable hasn't been seeking a congressional subsidization for it, he said.

Competitive Carriers Association members “will continue to be innovative in keeping their employees on the job while taking steps to keep their customers connected, and we look forward to working with the Commission and Congress to ensure every American ... has access to robust mobile broadband services,” CEO Steven Berry said in a statement. Incompas CEO Chip Pickering praised Pai, saying “his support for connectivity funding in Congress which will help small businesses and make deployment of faster speeds, more affordable networks central to our nation’s recovery efforts.”

USTelecom’s member companies “have always gone above and beyond to serve their communities: pledge or no pledge,” a spokesperson emailed. “Broadband providers of all sizes stood tall in this crisis and that commitment to keeping families, businesses, patients and students connected remains.”

Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and David McKinley, R-W.Va., meanwhile, refiled their Nationwide Dig Once Act. The pair filed the measure last year as HR-2692. The refiled version, as before, would mandate construction of broadband conduit pipes during the construction of any road receiving federal funding in areas that lack broadband infrastructure. Eshoo said she’s “pleased” the House Infrastructure Committee included the bill’s language in the version of the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (Invest) in America Act (HR-2) it advanced last week.