Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, announced that her Rural Broadband Protection Act has passed the Senate unanimously. The bill will now proceed to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

The legislation aims to implement a more rigorous vetting and verification process for internet service providers seeking participation in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) high-cost programs. It also introduces safeguards to ensure that funding from the Universal Service Fund’s High Cost program is allocated to companies with a proven track record and sound judgment in deploying services in difficult-to-serve areas.

“West Virginians keep their word, and it’s time internet service providers do the same,” said Senator Capito. “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. These discussions made it abundantly clear the FCC needs congressional direction to ensure taxpayer money is being used properly to fund broadband deployment in rural areas. By verifying that providers can actually deliver on the promises made to bring high-speed internet to specific areas, we can maximize the influx of broadband dollars coming to West Virginia and move toward our goal of closing the digital divide in communities of all sizes across our state. I encourage my House colleagues to pass this important legislation quickly.”

The FCC’s High Cost program funds telecom carriers to provide services in rural areas where market forces alone cannot support network infrastructure deployment costs. Historically, it subsidized voice services but has been modernized since 2011 through a series of reform orders to support broadband connectivity nationwide.

The updated program, known as the Connect America Fund, includes new funds based on incentive models and competitive bidding processes designed to award carriers support for building out broadband in unserved and underserved locations.