This week, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., brought back his “Coastal Broadband Deployment Act” to help expand broadband projects in floodplains.
In recent years, Bilirakis has pushed the proposal but has not garnered much momentum in getting it through the U.S. House. However, as the congressman’s office noted, it has the support of the GOP leadership controlling the chamber.
“This legislation is part of a comprehensive package of bills that aim to streamline the deployment of broadband infrastructure. This package, spearheaded by Republican members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, would promote new and upgraded infrastructure deployments, incentivize competition and consumer choice, create right-size regulations for building infrastructure across industries, and facilitate broadband deployment on federal lands,” noted Bilirakis’s office.
“Several parts of my district lie within flood zones,” said Bilirakis. “I want to be sure that all of my constituents have access to 21st Century Technologies, enabling them to harness the potential power that these capabilities offer. Being left behind is not an option.”
U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., is co-sponsoring the bill.
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce and the Natural Resources Committees. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
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