Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages S5242-S5243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
E-FRONTIER ACT
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I wish to give notice of my intent to
object to any unanimous consent agreement regarding S. 918, the E-
FRONTIER Act.
In January of 2018, media reports revealed that officials in the
National Security Council were considering a proposal for the Federal
Government to pay for and build a national 5G telecommunications
network. This proposal was then widely criticized by top administration
officials, including Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit
Pai and White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow. The President
himself subsequently distanced himself from the proposal and made it
clear that he favored a 5G strategy that is private-sector driven and
led.
In response to this controversial proposal, a Senator introduced the
E-FRONTIER Act. This bill prohibits the Federal Government from
constructing, operating, or offering retail or wholesale services on
broadband networks absent congressional authorization.
My colleague stated the bill is intended to ``protect commercial 5G
broadband networks from nationalization without authorization from
Congress.'' While I agree that there is no need, at the current time,
for the Federal Government to offer commercial wireless service in
well-served urban markets, I do not believe that Congress should be
taking any options off the table when it comes to delivering high-speed
wireless broadband to rural communities that have long been ignored by
the private sector.
[[Page S5243]]
This bill is also drafted so that its impact would extend
significantly beyond its stated goal. Not only would my colleagues'
proposal prohibit the Federal Government from operating commercial
wireless networks without explicit congressional authorization, but it
would also prohibit the government from operating wireline networks,
such as fiber and cable networks.
Passing this legislation would bar the Federal Government from
offering fiber-to-the-home connectivity to the tens of millions or
Americans who currently have no meaningful option for high-speed
broadband internet access at home. In effect, it would tell Americans
in rural and low-income communities across the country that, if the
private sector does not think it can make a profit offering service in
their communities, that is the end of the line for them. Outside of
providing subsidies, the Federal Government would be barred from
addressing these market failures by contracting to build the
infrastructure itself.
Time and time again, Congress has, on an overwhelmingly bipartisan
basis, maintained the critical importance of delivering broadband to
all Americans, and not just those in big cities. This body should not
ban any option for internet connectivity without fulsome debate and
regular order.
Unfortunately, this need case is far from a hypothetical. As many as
162 million Americans across the country do not have access to internet
service at broadband speeds, according to one recent analysis cited by
the FCC. Congress should be passing laws that work to close this gap
and not those that tie our hands as millions and millions of Americans
are left behind in this new digital divide. It is an issue of fairness,
it is an issue of equality, and it is an issue that must be subjected
to vigorous public debate.
So I rise today with a simple and straightforward request: Before
Congress limits possible broadband buildout options for decades to
come, let's give my colleagues' proposal the careful consideration that
it deserves. I look forward to working with my colleagues to see if we
can resolve some of these outstanding issues in a manner that is fair,
transparent, and timely.
For all of these reasons, I will object to any unanimous consent
agreement to consider S. 918.
____________________