Bill Overview
Title: Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a process to vet applicants for certain funding that supports affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas, including rural communities. Specifically, the process applies to applicants seeking funding under the high-cost universal service programs that provide competitive awards for broadband deployment. As part of the process, the FCC must require applicants to provide a proposal for deploying the broadband network. The proposal must contain enough detail and documentation for the FCC to ascertain whether the applicant has the technical capabilities to deploy the proposed network and deliver services. The FCC must evaluate proposals against reasonable and well-established technical standards.
Sponsors: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Target Audience
Population: People living in rural or high-cost broadband access areas worldwide
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The bill targets broadband deployment in high-cost areas, indicating that people living in these areas will be impacted due to potential improvements in internet access.
- High-cost areas often include rural and underserved communities, so individuals in rural areas are a primary focus.
- Internet access in rural communities is typically less reliable or slower, so increased broadband access could significantly impact their quality of life, economic opportunities, education, and healthcare access.
- The bill's effect will ripple to anyone relying on internet services - for personal use, remote work, telehealth, and virtual education, typically underrepresented in rural settings.
Reasoning
- The Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2022 is primarily targeted at improving broadband access and quality in high-cost rural areas.
- Individuals in rural communities often have limited access to reliable and fast internet; hence, the policy can significantly improve their quality of life.
- About 60 million Americans live in rural areas, particularly in the Midwest and Southern states, where broadband access is typically poor.
- The $50,000,000 initial budget and $400,000,000 over ten years will serve to build or improve broadband infrastructure in these areas.
- The impact on quality of life, economic opportunities, access to education, and healthcare can be substantial for those directly impacted.
- However, some individuals in urban or already well-served areas will not see significant changes from this policy.
- The policy may also indirectly influence individuals relying on services from rural communities, such as agriculture, trucking, and tourism.
Simulated Interviews
Farmer (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been waiting for years to get reliable internet. It's crucial for my business.
- Better internet would mean more efficient farming operations and better market connect.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Elementary School Teacher (Rural Texas)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The internet upgrade could help my students access resources they desperately need.
- I'm excited about the potential to better support students' learning from home.
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 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Rural Missouri)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It would be nice to have better internet for telemedicine appointments.
- I'm worried about the slow connection when contacting family or accessing services online.
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 |
Freelancer (Rural South Dakota)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved internet access would help me get projects done faster.
- I'd have access to more opportunities globally if the bandwidth was better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Rural Mississippi)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fast internet would help manage my business better.
- Access to broader markets through online channels could boost my sales.
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 | 8 | 6 |
College Student (Rural Iowa)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better internet might ease my study routine.
- I'd save a lot of commute time and can manage my part-time job better with reliable internet.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Trucker (Rural Tennessee)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Upgraded internet could improve my road safety and communication with family.
- I hope for better GPS service and reliable calls on remote roads.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Healthcare Worker (Rural Vermont)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable internet is crucial for accessing telehealth resources.
- Better connectivity can improve patient care services, especially amidst emergencies.
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 |
IT Consultant (Urban California)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy won't impact me directly, but it's good for rural development.
- There should be a focus on sustainable and long-term solutions.
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 |
Retired (Suburban Ohio)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't rely on the internet much, but I know it's important for younger family members.
- This policy seems important for keeping communities connected.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $45000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $55000000)
Year 3: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 5: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 10: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $45000000)
Year 100: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring equitable access across diverse rural communities requires comprehensive planning and outreach by the FCC.
- Technical capability assessments need a standardized approach to ensure all applicants are evaluated fairly.
- Long-term success hinges not just on infrastructure deployment but also on affordable pricing and training for rural users to fully benefit from broadband access.