Senate Bill Would Rescind FCC OTMR And Small Cell Rules

“State and local governments have long regulated what goes on utility poles and how to manage the equipment,” Senator Feinstein said. “This is because they are in the best position to determine the safety and evaluate the impact of additional equipment, lines and chemicals. Our bill would restore state and local control of these decisions – where it belongs.”

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The Regulatory Mix Today: Senate Bill Would Rescind FCC OTMR And Small Cell Rules, Senators Introduce Last Mile Broadband Bill

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Senators Introduce Last Mile Broadband Bill

U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Doug Jones (D-AL) announced they introduced the American Broadband Buildout Act of 2019 (ABBA).  The bill would ensure that rural Americans have access to broadband services at speeds they need to fully participate in the modern society and economy by directing the FCC to provide up to $5 billion in matching grants to help states improve broadband infrastructure.

The Act would:

• Require that projects that receive funding must be located in “unserved” areas, where broadband is unavailable at speeds that meet the FCC’s standard.
• Require that the federal funding be matched through public-private partnerships between the broadband service provider and the state in which the infrastructure project will be built. 
• Require that projects be designed to be “future proof,” meaning that the infrastructure installed must be capable of delivering higher-speeds as broadband accelerates in the future.
• Direct the FCC to prioritize the funding of projects in states that have traditionally lagged behind the national average in terms of broadband subscribers and are at risk of falling further behind as broadband speeds increase.
• Provide grants to states and state-designated entities for digital literacy and public awareness campaigns highlighting the benefits and possibilities of broadband service.

“As a native of Aroostook County—the largest county by land area east of the Mississippi, with fewer than 70,000 residents —I know how important health care is to the vitality of rural communities.  Often, these communities struggle to attract and retain the physicians that they need to ensure access to quality care for their citizens.  Broadband can help bridge the gap by enabling innovative health care delivery in these rural communities,” said Senator Collins.  “Our bipartisan bill would help rural communities access high-speed Internet and overcome this digital divide by funding broadband where it is needed most.”

“In too many parts of Alabama – and across the country – reliable, high-speed internet is still too hard to come by. It’s no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity for modern life. This bill will help public-private partnerships fund broadband development in the areas that need it most,” said Senator Jones.

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.