Bill Overview
Title: ACCESS Rural America Act
Description: This bill increases the shareholder registration threshold for issuers receiving support through federal universal service support mechanisms, which provide communication services to underserved areas.
Sponsors: Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]
Target Audience
Population: Rural populations benefiting from improved communication services
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The bill involves shareholder registration and federal universal service support mechanisms, which are primarily financial and telecommunications business-oriented.
- The federal universal service support mechanisms relate to providing communication services to underserved rural areas.
- Such mechanisms serve to improve communication infrastructures like broadband internet in these areas.
- Companies and investors involved in telecommunications and rural development would be primarily impacted since their registration process is being altered.
- The rural areas’ populations who are underserved, implying lack of access to reliable communication services, will indirectly benefit from enhanced services due to increased investment and development.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily benefits telecommunications businesses and their stakeholders by increasing the threshold for shareholder registration, which can lead to increased investments in underserved areas.
- As the policy impacts federal universal service support mechanisms, it directly affects rural telecommunications development, indirectly benefiting residents through potential enhancements to communication services.
- Improved communication services can positively influence well-being, productivity, and access to opportunities in rural areas.
- Not all rural residents will be directly aware of the policy's impact or feel an immediate change, but over time, the infrastructure improvements may contribute to community upliftment.
- Telecommunications companies and their investors see medium to high impact due to regulatory changes easing their expansion capabilities, while local population impact is gradual yet potentially substantial over time.
Simulated Interviews
Small Farm Owner (Vermont)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often struggle with keeping my online business running smoothly because of unreliable internet.
- If this bill brings better services, it could really help boost my sales and manage my farm better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Telecommunications Investor (Mississippi)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm always on the lookout for regulatory changes that could open new frontiers.
- This act seems to lower barriers and could very well increase the value of existing and new investments in underserved areas.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Montana)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not clear on how politics work but better internet could mean more access to essential services for us old folks.
- It’s hard to keep up-to-date with the world when we are last in the line for service improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelance Journalist (Ohio)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changes in communication infrastructure directly affect my work content and style.
- I’m skeptical about the immediate effects on the population, but improvements surely provide more story angles and insights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Rural Community Development Officer (New Mexico)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems promising if it brings more investments and connectivity, which is always needed.
- I'm hopeful it translates into real projects that improve people's lives.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Broadband Technician (South Dakota)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act could mean more work and stability for those of us in the field.
- People don’t see the policy change impacts until we are in their homes installing these services.
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 | 7 | 6 |
Elementary School Teacher (Tennessee)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Internet accessibility is a huge issue for my students.
- I hope this act means better educational resources and less lag time for distance learning.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Corn Farmer (Iowa)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Good connectivity can really help me work more efficiently and improve my yield.
- Feels like every year we're promised better service but see little action.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Start-up Entrepreneur (Nebraska)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For a start-up like ours, this act could open new doors and partnerships with telecommunications companies.
- Digital inclusivity should be prioritized, and regulatory flexibility could facilitate that.
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 |
Cable Service Manager (Alabama)
Age: 48 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will likely increase our client base by allowing more widespread and less restricted service offerings.
- It’s fundamental that such acts simplify operations, paving the way for more efficient service delivery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $80000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $31000000, High: $83000000)
Year 3: $53000000 (Low: $32000000, High: $86000000)
Year 5: $56000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $91000000)
Year 10: $62000000 (Low: $39000000, High: $100000000)
Year 100: $120000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $200000000)
Key Considerations
- Implementation challenges related to updating shareholder registration processes for telecommunications companies.
- Potential resistance from companies due to the initial increase in administrative costs.
- The likelihood of significant economic benefits for rural areas that currently lack adequate communications infrastructure.