Bill Overview
Title: GREEN Communications Act
Description: This bill establishes a program and sets out other requirements for federal agencies concerning the efficiency and resiliency of communications infrastructure. Specifically, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must competitively award grants and revolving loans to public or private providers, operators, or owners of communications networks or communications infrastructure for efficiency and resiliency projects. The NTIA must also (1) develop best practices concerning energy-efficient and carbon-neutral communications infrastructure, and (2) annually report on the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions of communications infrastructure and certain network outages. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must establish a framework to promote resilient communications networks and communications infrastructure. The FCC must consult with specified federal entities on the framework. The FCC must also report on the feasibility of maintaining a map of projected risks to communications infrastructure arising from severe weather, natural disasters, and climate change; provide technical assistance to a provider, owner, or operator of communications infrastructure concerning risks and vulnerabilities related to severe weather, natural disasters, and climate change; and require broadband network outages to be reported to the Network Outage Reporting System. The bill also requires the Department of Energy to report on the projected growth of electrical consumption of, and recommendations for energy efficiency standards for, data centers in the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals dependent on communications infrastructure globally
Estimated Size: 330000000
- Communications infrastructure is crucial for the functioning of modern economies and societies, affecting many aspects of daily life.
- Resiliency and efficiency improvements in communications networks can lead to more reliable services during extreme weather events and natural disasters.
- Energy-efficient and carbon-neutral practices in communications can contribute to global emission reduction goals, affecting all global citizens.
- The development of best practices and annual reports will likely influence global standards and practices in the communications industry.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on improving the efficiency and resil resiliency of communications infrastructure, thus affecting the entire population that relies on communications networks every day.
- Considering the wide-reaching nature of communications infrastructure, diverse demographics—including urban residents, rural populations, business owners, and individuals working in communications-related fields—are likely to have varying opinions about the impacts of this policy.
- The budget constraints mean the policy will initially only impact portions of the population or specific regions, resulting in varying degrees of perceptible change.
- Both the immediate impact (Year 1) and the long-term benefits (Years 20) need to be understood since infrastructure changes can take time to implement and show effects.
Simulated Interviews
Network Engineer (Austin, Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think improved infrastructure can definitely help in making our city more resilient to climate change.
- If the grants and loans trickle down to the company I work for, it could mean better tools and training for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (New York City, New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Frequent network outages have been a challenge for my business.
- Any improvement in network reliability would be welcomed and would likely reduce downtime.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Environmental Activist (San Francisco, California)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time communications infrastructure gets a green makeover.
- This policy could set an example for other sectors in terms of sustainability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
School Teacher (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Remote learning has shown the importance of strong communication networks.
- I hope this policy helps in providing uninterrupted online classes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable internet is crucial for my telehealth sessions with doctors.
- Improvements could make these services more accessible.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Student (Rural Kansas)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Internet access is often spotty out here, affecting my studies.
- This policy could help bridge the digital gap in rural areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Miami, Florida)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better infrastructure will benefit freelancers like myself who depend on good connectivity.
- Digital tools and networks are everything in my line of work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Hotel Manager (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Network reliability is crucial for guest services in the hospitality industry.
- An improved network would enhance guest satisfaction and operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Graduate Researcher (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Leveraging data centers more efficiently aligns with research needs and goals.
- Policies promoting energy efficiency in this field greatly benefit operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Film Producer (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable and efficient networks are essential in the entertainment industry for all communication needs.
- This policy could streamline production processes and collaborations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 3: $130000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $150000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $125000000, High: $175000000)
Year 10: $180000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $210000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the GREEN Communications Act will depend significantly on the continued funding and oversight of NTIA and FCC.
- The collaboration of private sector entities in adopting best practices and pursuing funded projects is crucial for realizing the intended benefits.
- The accuracy and update frequency of the FCC's risk assessment map will affect its utility and impact.