Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks | Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks Website
Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks | Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks Website
Washington, D.C. –U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Debbie Dingell (MI-06) introduced the Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act, legislation that would require National Telecommunications and Information Administration to periodically report to Congress on whether the Departments of Interior and Agriculture have established an online portal for the acceptance, processing, and disposal of the common form application to deploy a communications facility on federal property. This will help expedite and improve tracking of broadband deployment on federal lands. Text of the bill may be found here.
“Since I was first sworn into Congress, I’ve been fighting to expand broadband services. Covid exposed the divide between cities and more rural areas and proved the need for reform,” said Miller-Meeks. “I’m proud to lead this legislation, which will simplify and expedite broadband expansion.”
“We recently passed once-in-a-generation investments to upgrade connectivity infrastructure and improve access to broadband for all Americans as we live in an increasingly connected world. We need to make thoughtful, targeted improvements to permitting applications that will ensure we have an effective, streamlined system in place to deploy the benefits of these laws. The Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act will assist in modernizing our system for accepting, processing, and disposing applications to establish new communications facilities and infrastructure, helping us to get these important projects underway and reaching the people who most need them more efficiently,” said Dingell.
“Many families and businesses across the country still lack access to broadband, which is a critical part of today’s economy. Energy and Commerce is leading to remove regulatory red tape, deploy broadband faster, get Americans across the country connected, and close the digital divide once and for all. The legislative package we’re unveiling will help us connect all Americans, and I commend Rep. Miller-Meeks for her leadership on the Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act, which will help us achieve these goals,” said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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Issues: Science & Technology
Original source can be found here.
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