Expanding Appalachia's Broadband Access

Summary#

This bill would require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and send the results to Congress within 90 days after the bill becomes law. The study must look at whether the Appalachian Regional Commission can include low-orbit satellites in its broadband projects. Specifically, the study must:

• review the capacity of low-orbit satellite services for business use;
• evaluate economic development growth in areas that have used low-orbit satellites for businesses; and
• analyze the cost-effectiveness of using broadband satellites for economic development.

What it means for you#

If enacted, the bill would order a federal study and report about using low-orbit satellites in Appalachian Regional Commission broadband projects. The bill itself does not create or fund broadband projects or change services. The study would be completed and reported to Congress within 90 days of the law taking effect.

Expenses#

No publicly available information. The text of the bill does not include specific funding amounts or cost estimates.

Proponents' View#

The sponsor introduced the bill to require the Comptroller General to study the capability of the Appalachian Regional Commission to include low-orbit satellites in broadband projects.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.