Sponsors (2)
The bill centralizes and standardizes broadband mapping and data to reduce duplication and accelerate deployment—benefitting underserved areas and taxpayers—but it increases reporting burdens, risks locking decisions to existing map data, and raises privacy and flexibility concerns for agencies and providers.
State and local governments, federal agencies, and underserved communities will use a coordinated, authoritative Broadband Funding Map and shared data to reduce duplicate projects and overbuilding, making broadband funding and deployment decisions more efficient.
Consumers in underserved and rural areas could receive broadband service faster and with fewer duplicative projects because improved planning and data coordination target investments more effectively.
Federal, state, and local officials (and the public) will get better transparency and higher-quality mapping data, helping governments target funding, oversight, and public information more effectively.
Federal agencies and program offices will face increased administrative workload and compliance costs to collect, consolidate, and report detailed funding and project data, which could slow program actions and raise administrative expenses funded by taxpayers.
Communities omitted or mischaracterized on the existing Broadband Deployment Locations Map could be disadvantaged if program language binds eligibility or prioritization to that map, affecting funding access for some underserved areas.
Providers submitting detailed project and funding information may face privacy, proprietary, or competitive risks if data safeguards are insufficient, potentially discouraging participation or raising compliance concerns.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires FCC (with NTIA) to review and improve federal Broadband Funding Map data and tasks GAO to study agency compliance, coordination, and savings opportunities.
Introduced July 31, 2025 by Debra Fischer · Last progress July 31, 2025
Requires the FCC, working with NTIA, to review and improve the federal Broadband Funding Map by collecting and evaluating program data submitted by federal agencies and by opening a short, formal inquiry into the map’s data quality, timeliness, and integration with FCC tools. Also directs the Government Accountability Office to complete a focused study on agency compliance, interagency coordination, authorities, and opportunities to reduce duplicate federal broadband spending and produce a report to Congress within specified deadlines.