Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced the Modernization, Accountability, and Planning (MAP) for Broadband Funding Act, to provide oversight of the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Broadband Funding Map to ensure it is functioning effectively for the public, federal agencies, and broadband providers.
Cortez Masto and Fischer originally created the Broadband Funding Map as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With oversight needed to ensure federal agencies are utilizing the Map to its full potential, the MAP For Broadway Funding Act will ensure that these agencies are reliably reporting their funding data to the FCC.
“As we work to expand broadband access across the country, it’s critical that we do so with as much transparency, accountability, and coordination as possible,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Reliable access to the internet is already so important for people to work and take care of their everyday tasks. Congress must ensure we continue to expand its access efficiently.”
“I have worked diligently for years to close the digital divide for unserved and underserved communities,” said Senator Fischer. “My work with Senator Cortez Masto was underscored by the Broadband Funding Map, which we created in 2021. While I’m pleased the FCC launched the Map in 2023, it is clear oversight is needed here to ensure all federal agencies are utilizing the Map to its full potential. I won’t relent in my efforts to expand Internet connectivity for those who lack access—this is a critical step in that mission.”
The MAP for Broadband Funding Act provides fresh oversight for the FCC’s Broadband Funding Map to ensure the Map is functioning effectively, efficiently, and transparently as possible for the public, federal agencies, and broadband providers alike. To meet this goal, the bill:
- Directs the FCC to conduct a Notice of Inquiry on the Map’s function and data it displays for maximum usability, assessing any necessary updates from a user-experience perspective, and
- Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate how well federal agencies are populating the Map in compliance with current law, identifying any gaps in reporting for its optimum functionality.
As part of her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts to improve broadband access and strengthen Nevada’s economy. She successfully called for increased accountability for federal broadband programs through efforts like the FCC broadband map which helped deliver the State of Nevada additional BEAD funding – totaling $416 million – through more accurate broadband accessibility data. The Senator has also passed her bipartisan ACCESS Broadband Act to establish a broadband oversight office in the Commerce Department, which administers the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law BEAD funding, provides technical assistance to communities, and tracks taxpayer dollars. Most recently, the Senator has condemned the Trump Administration’s reckless decision to rescind approval for states to receive their share of BEAD program funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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