CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday passed legislation aimed at improving how internet coverage is tracked and recorded.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act; the measure would require the Federal Communications Commission to issue rules on data collection on internet access, as well as establish a procedure for federal agencies to consult the map before distributing funds.
Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi introduced the bill in June; West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito was one of Senate Bill 1822’s sponsors.
“We’ve had a lot of testimony in this committee as to why the inaccuracy of some of the data that’s coming through on the mapping. My state of West Virginia is one of the most challenged states when it comes to connectivity, and how can we fix the problem if we don’t accurately know where the problems exist?” she said.
The full Senate will next consider the legislation.