Bill Overview
Title: Broadband Buildout Accountability Act
Description: This bill makes actions or decisions of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration concerning the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program subject to the Freedom of Information Act, which governs the release of federal documents.
Sponsors: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by broadband availability and policy changes
Estimated Size: 19000000
- The bill concerns the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and its actions regarding the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD).
- BEAD aims to expand broadband access to underserved areas, which primarily includes rural communities, low-income households, and urban areas with deficient broadband infrastructure.
- The availability of broadband affects education, job opportunities, healthcare access, and other services for people in these areas.
- The bill will hold the NTIA accountable for its actions in making these deployments, potentially affecting how effectively broadband access is expanded.
Reasoning
- The Broadband Buildout Accountability Act is aimed at influencing the expansion of broadband access through government transparency and accountability, particularly focusing on underserved areas.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy is likely to have a targeted impact on specific communities rather than a broad, immediate impact on all underserved areas.
- Most of the population will experience a low to medium impact based on the degree of current broadband deficiency in their areas and the NTIA's ability to increase broadband deployment efficiently.
- The population distribution should reflect a diverse mix of individuals in rural and underserved urban areas who benefit differently based on their dependency on broadband for work, education, and healthcare.
Simulated Interviews
farmer (rural Nebraska)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this new policy ensures we finally get reliable internet out here.
- Without good internet, I struggle to access timely information for my farm.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
college student (urban Detroit)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With better internet, I can keep up with my online classes and potentially look for internships that allow remote work.
- Right now, I face lots of interruptions and slow connections during crucial exams.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 1 |
retired (Appalachian region)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am hopeful this will prioritize healthcare services and improve my access to telehealth.
- Current internet barely supports video calls, and my health deteriorates when I skip check-ups.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 1 |
remote software developer (Chicago suburbs)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved broadband will definitely reduce my work interruptions and stress.
- I currently have to drive to a nearby town for reliable internet on important workdays.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
teacher (rural Mississippi)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate that the government will be accountable for where broadband funds go, but we need it now not later.
- My students fall behind without reliable online resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
unemployed (New York City)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring good broadband will open more remote job opportunities.
- The current cost of terrible service is a constant burden.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
content creator (Los Angeles)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased accountability might improve service reliability, which is crucial for my work.
- Currently, It's a gamble whether I'll be able to upload my content on schedule.
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 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
community health worker (outer Alaska)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If broadband improves, I can better serve my community with updated medical information.
- Currently, it's a struggle accessing even basic healthcare updates and training online.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
self-employed artist (rural New Mexico)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry whether this policy will really change how broadband is deployed.
- Better internet means reaching more potential buyers for my art.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
retired (inner-city Baltimore)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While accountability is great, I doubt I'll see much change in my area.
- Internet costs add up to a significant portion of my fixed income.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Key Considerations
- The balance between transparency and administrative burden will be crucial to manage efficiently.
- Monitoring the impact of increased FOIA requests on NTIA operations will be necessary to ensure program effectiveness isn't hampered.
- The indirect effects of enhanced transparency and accountability on broadband deployment efficiency should be evaluated over time.