Sponsors (2)
The bill improves nationwide broadband planning and reduces duplicative spending by tying federal programs to a single, coordinated funding map and clearer definitions — but it shifts administrative and compliance burdens to agencies, risks locking in map errors that can hurt communities, and raises privacy and flexibility concerns.
Consumers in underserved and rural areas will see broadband deployed more quickly and with fewer duplicative projects because federal agencies will coordinate data submissions and planning using the Broadband Funding Map.
Taxpayers could save money as agencies reduce redundant federal broadband spending and inefficient grants by relying on consolidated map data and coordinated planning.
State and local governments, plus utilities and planners, will get higher-quality, more consistent data (via the Broadband Funding Map and integration with FCC tools), enabling better targeting of funds and clearer public information on coverage and investments.
Federal and state agencies will face increased administrative workload, reporting and compliance costs to collect, consolidate, and report detailed funding and project data, straining staff time and budgets.
Communities omitted or mischaracterized on the existing Broadband Deployment Locations Map could be disadvantaged in funding eligibility or prioritization because the bill ties program decisions to that map.
Requiring expanded data reporting could expose providers' proprietary or competitively sensitive information and raise privacy or competition concerns for utilities and ISPs.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Directs the FCC (with NTIA) to collect federal agency broadband funding data for the Broadband Funding Map, start a mapping inquiry within 270 days, and requires a GAO study within 180 days.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Debra Fischer · Last progress June 23, 2026
Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), working with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to collect federal agency data for the Broadband Funding Map to help avoid redundant broadband spending and improve mapping accuracy. Directs the FCC to open a formal notice of inquiry within 270 days of enactment and finish that review within 120 days to evaluate map functionality, data quality, update timeliness, and possible data category changes. Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a study and report within 180 days of enactment on federal roles, agency compliance with data submission requirements, interagency coordination, the FCC’s authority to collect data, NTIA efforts, and opportunities to use the map to save taxpayer dollars.