Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, voted last week during a committee markup to advance the Rural Broadband Protection Act (RBPA), legislation she authored. The bill aims to provide essential safeguards to the Universal Service Fund’s high-cost programs by ensuring that funding goes to companies with a proven track record of success and sound judgment in deploying in hard-to-serve areas. The RBPA now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

“I have long been dedicated to making sure West Virginians have the broadband connectivity they need and deserve. This legislation expands on my previous broadband efforts and is a product of many discussions I’ve had with small rural service providers and local leaders in West Virginia. As we continue our efforts to close the digital divide in West Virginia – this bill will make sure that Universal Service Fund dollars are not wasted, and ensure that funding is being used properly to fund broadband deployment in rural areas. Advancing the RBPA for full Senate consideration is another positive step in connecting every last home, school, and business in West Virginia,” Senator Capito said.

Additionally, the committee passed six other pieces of legislation co-sponsored by Capito.

The Rural Broadband Protection Act was introduced by Senator Capito along with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in May 2023. The legislation would require a more thorough vetting and verification process for internet service providers seeking to participate in the Federal Communications Commission's high-cost programs.

In July, Senator Capito, along with U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), introduced the Validation and Evaluation for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (VET AI) Act. This bipartisan bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to work with federal agencies and stakeholders across industry, academia, and civil society to develop detailed voluntary guidelines and recommendations for third-party evaluators working with AI companies.

Senator Capito also helped introduce the Artificial Intelligence Research Innovation and Accountability Act of 2023 in November 2023. This bill establishes a framework to bolster innovation while bringing greater transparency, accountability, and security to high-impact AI applications.

In April 2024, Senators Capito and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act aimed at addressing barriers faced by Americans with disabilities at Amtrak rail stations across the country by requiring annual reports on compliance with accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In June 2024, Senator Capito joined U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to introduce the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act. This bill would criminalize non-consensual intimate imagery publication including AI-generated content (“deepfake pornography”) and require social media platforms to remove such content upon notification from victims.

Senator Capito also supported introducing the bipartisan Hotel Fees Transparency Act led by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) this past February. The act aims at improving consumer transparency regarding hotel room or short-term rental pricing.

Finally, Senator Capito introduced the Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act in March 2023 which seeks increased broadband supply chain transparency through FCC reporting on supply chain disruptions impacting broadband infrastructure projects' timely completion or deployment.