MODERNIZATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PLANNING FOR BROADBAND FUNDING ACT

On 2026-06-18, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) delivered a floor speech titled "MODERNIZATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PLANNING FOR BROADBAND FUNDING ACT" in the Senate.

MODERNIZATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PLANNING FOR BROADBAND FUNDING ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2922-S2924] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] MODERNIZATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PLANNING FOR BROADBAND FUNDING ACT Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss an issue that is near and dear to the State of Nebraska and to rural America, and that is the issue of closing the digital divide for unserved and underserved communities. My husband Bruce and I raised our family on a cattle ranch near Valentine, NE, so I know what it means to [[Page S2923]] live in a community where reliable internet is a luxury--it is not a given--and I know the opportunities rural America is missing as a result, from education and telehealth to entrepreneurship and precision agriculture. Over the past decade, Congress has provided tens of billions of dollars for hundreds of programs administered by more than a dozen Federal Agencies. The centerpiece of that investment was the BEAD Program--a more than $40 billion broadband deployment initiative included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and it was enacted into law nearly 5 years ago. As part of that legislation, I worked in a bipartisan fashion with Senator Cortez Masto to create the Broadband Funding Map--an FCC tool that provides a public overview of broadband infrastructure deployment projects that are funded with Federal dollars. But now we must ask, are those dollars making a difference for the families, for the businesses, and for the communities that need them the most? The American people, Federal Agencies, and broadband providers deserve clarity so they can make informed decisions about where additional investment is needed. This will also help avoid duplicative Federal funding. Since then, we have identified a need for fresh oversight of the FCC's management of this tool. That is why Senator Cortez Masto and I introduced the MAP for Broadband Funding Act. At its core, this bill is about accountability. It will strengthen oversight of the Federal Communications Commission and direct it to review how usable and accurate that map really is for the public and also for providers. It also tasks the Government Accountability Office with ensuring Federal Agencies are reporting information correctly. If the map is flawed, then the billions of dollars that are tied to it risk missing the mark. I am proud that this bipartisan bill cleared the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously in February. Now it is time for the full Senate to pass it too. Americans will be better connected and better served because of it. Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 407, S. 2585. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2585) to modernize and improve the Broadband Funding Map in order to promote the most efficient use of Federal funds for broadband deployment, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Modernization, Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act'' or the ``MAP for Broadband Funding Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. (2) Broadband funding map.--The term ``Broadband Funding Map'' means the Deployment Locations Map, as defined in section 60105(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(a)). (3) Broadband infrastructure.--The term ``broadband infrastructure'' has the meaning given that term in section 60105(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(a)). (4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Communications Commission. (5) NTIA.--The term ``NTIA'' means the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. SEC. 3. BROADBAND FUNDING MAP MODERNIZATION. (a) In General.--The Commission, in coordination with NTIA, shall collect data submitted for the Broadband Funding Map by relevant Federal agencies on a reasonable and timely basis pursuant to section 60105(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(d)), in order to promote the most efficient use of Federal funds for broadband deployment and prevent inefficient use or fragmentation of Federal funding for broadband infrastructure. (b) Inquiry.-- (1) Notice of inquiry.-- (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall initiate a notice of inquiry concerning the optimum functionality and transparency of the Broadband Funding Map, including the quality and completeness of the data populated to the Broadband Funding Map. (B) Request for vote.--Any Commissioner may request a vote at the Commission level prior to the initiation of a notice of inquiry required under subparagraph (A). Upon such request, the notice of inquiry required under subparagraph (A) may not proceed unless a majority of the Commissioners vote to approve the notice of inquiry. (2) Evaluation considerations.--In the inquiry, the Commission shall include evaluation of the following considerations: (A) The adequacy with which Federal agencies have been able to collect and submit the required categories of data pursuant to section 60105(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(d)) to date. (B) The usability of such existing categories of data described in subparagraph (A) to the public, and whether any category should be added, eliminated, or otherwise altered for improved user experience. (C) The timeliness of periodic updates from Federal agencies to the Broadband Funding Map pursuant to section 60105(e) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(e). (D) Whether the scope of programmatic data to be reported to the Broadband Funding Map pursuant to section 60105(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(d)(1)) should be expanded. (E) Whether third-party mapping data should be incorporated to improve the functionality and transparency of the Broadband Funding Map. (F) Any manners in which the Commission should potentially augment or streamline the Broadband Funding Map with existing Commission mapping tools. (3) Completion.--Not later than 120 days after the initiation of the inquiry under paragraph (1), the Commission shall complete the inquiry. SEC. 4. GAO STUDY AND REPORT. (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall-- (1) conduct a study on the roles, responsibilities, and progress to date of Federal agencies to maintain the Broadband Funding Map and ensure the completeness and continued relevance of the Broadband Funding Map; and (2) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the study under paragraph (1) that includes the findings and conclusions of the Comptroller General. (b) Requirements.--In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review the following: (1) The extent to which each eligible Federal agency is submitting programmatic data to the Broadband Funding Map adequately and in compliance with section 60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704), including identification of any-- (A) successful best practices in submitting such data to the Commission; and (B) challenges resulting in incomplete data submissions from an agency or individual program to the Commission. (2) The proficiency of the Commission's management of the Broadband Funding Map and related interagency collaboration. (3) Whether the Commission has sufficient authority to collect the necessary data from Federal agencies to populate the Broadband Funding Map. (4) The respective data collection efforts of NTIA pursuant to the ACCESS BROADBAND Act (47 U.S.C. 1307) and section 60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 47 U.S.C. 1704). (5) The effectiveness of coordination among the Commission, NTIA, and other relevant Federal agencies that provide funding for broadband infrastructure deployment, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, pursuant to section 60105(g) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. 1704(g)). (6) How enhanced use of the Broadband Funding Map by relevant Federal agencies could improve taxpayer savings. (7) The feasibility and potential benefits of incorporating third-party mapping data into the Broadband Funding Map. Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time. Mrs. FISCHER. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? If not, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass? The bill (S. 2585), as amended, was passed. Mrs. FISCHER.

Referenced legislation: S2585