ISP Groups Praise Roberts, Moran Proposal to Extend COVID-19 Aid Spending Deadline

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Sen. Jerry Moran, both R-Kan., bowed the Remove Impediments for a Successful Economic Recovery (Riser) Act, drawing praise from broadband groups. The Riser Act would extend the deadline to draw on state-level funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (Cares) Act (see 2003270058), including for broadband construction, from Dec. 31 to the end of 2022. “We are ensuring local governments throughout Kansas and the country are able to utilize this critical funding in the best, most effective way possible and within a more reasonable timeframe,” Roberts said in a statement. Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., proposed extending the deadline to the end of 2021. “While we are optimistic that the [pandemic] will recede in the coming months, we know that America’s recovery will take much longer,” NCTA said. “That is why we support” the Riser Act, which will allow states “to expand access in a technology neutral manner to broadband and telemedicine services in unserved communities,” giving states “time to identify and focus funding on projects and areas most in need.” Congress’ passage of the Cares Act “enabled states to fund additional deployment, but the provision indicating that funds expire at the end of the year complicates planning for and completion of these projects,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield in a statement.