March 10, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 46 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page S1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACCURACY AND TECHNOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY ACT

  Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I rise in support of S. 1822, the 
Broadband DATA Act, and in a moment I will make a unanimous consent 
request with regard to that legislation.
  This bill will ensure that the FCC has the most accurate broadband 
coverage maps in the world today to deploy 5G networks. As you know, we 
were in a race to win that race globally, and I think we can still do 
it.
  In December, the Senate unanimously passed this measure, S. 1822, but 
because the House passed a slightly amended version last week, we need 
to act again to get this bill across the finish line.
  We have a digital divide in this country which threatens to leave 
rural America behind. We have done a lot to address that divide. 
However, an estimated 20 million Americans still lack access to 
broadband--Americans like those in Arizona or Mississippi or other 
States across our heartland. Every year, the FCC spends billions of 
dollars to promote deployment of broadband across the United States. S. 
1822 will result in highly detailed and accurate maps so that the FCC 
can direct support to areas most in need.
  This legislation represents extensive negotiation and work on a 
bipartisan and bicameral basis, for which I congratulate this Senate. 
My hat is off to our colleagues in the other body and thanks to all the 
staff who have helped on both sides of the aisle.
  Madam President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate the message to 
accompany S. 1822.
  The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:

       Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 1822) entitled 
     ``An act to require the Federal Communications Commission to 
     issue rules relating to the collection of data with respect 
     to the availability of broadband services and for other 
     purposes.'', do pass with an amendment.


                            Motion to Concur

  Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I move to concur in the House amendment, 
and I ask unanimous consent that the motion be agreed to and that the 
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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