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INCOMPAS and 10 other industry associations sent a letter to Reps. Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) urging them to prioritize consideration of H.R. 3557, the American Broadband Deployment Act, in the final months of this Congress.
The associations said achieving the goal of universal connectivity will be limited unless certain barriers are removed today and H.R. 3557 would address these barriers. They also said ABDA would ensure continued equitable access to rights-of-way, a key area of deployment for state-of-the-art wireline infrastructure such as fiber, cable, small cell antennas and power transmission, which delivers broadband and other services. Additionally, they said beyond codifying FCC orders on broadband deployment, ABDA takes proactive steps to improve siting on federal lands and reduce unnecessary red tape for applications to deploy or improve communications networks.
“Consumers and small businesses across the country rely on the seamless and speedy deployment of fiber and wireless networks for their broadband connectivity.” said INCOMPAS President Angie Kronenberg. “It is of the upmost importance that every American has access to broadband infrastructure, giving them increased accessibility to healthcare, education, and jobs.”
“Now is the time for Congress to pass the American Broadband Deployment Act," she added. "Broadband is a critical component of participating in the modern economy and touches every economic sector. Passing the legislation would be a key step in closing the digital divide and granting every American reliable and timely access to broadband in both metropolitan and rural areas across the country.”
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