Transcripts For CSPAN2 Senate Hearing On Broadband Access And Capabilities During Pandemic 20240713

Several of whom will participate remotely. I will come artisticpa wish panl of witnesses. I thank them for a period. Today we will hear from mr. Steven berry, president and chief exec of Competitive Carriers Association paid ms. Shirley bloomfield, chief executive officer of the ruralhe broadband association. Mr. Dean kimmelman, Senior Advisor of Public Knowledge who will be appearing at testified remotely and mr. Jonathans vulture, president and chief executive officer of u. S. Telecom broadband association. The crisis has changed lead dramatically for every american. As the administration and the center for Disease Control and prevention encourages social a distancing to prevent further spread of the virus normalia activities like work, school and Health Care Services are now increasingly taking place online. This has caused a huge uptick for the use of broadband in one estimate shows that every Broadband Usage is up by 47 since the pandemic began. The good news is theres been progress in connecting all americans. Fccs recently released broadband deployment report tells us that the number of households without access to Broadband Service continues to decline. Yet, despite these advances through significant work that needs to be done. The Current Public Health crisis has made these efforts all the more urgent and i appreciate the initiatives of the fcc to accelerate the availability of broadband exits. This includes, being americans connected bloods. We are providers that have committed not to terminate Broadband Services to any residential oril Small Business customers because of an inability to pay their bills, among other commitments. Along with temporary modifications for universal flood u. S. Of programs to support the surging demand for service. These commitments had been done with so inconvenience and cost to those making the pledge and i appreciate that. The bipartisan peers act also provides federal resources to broadband related programs in response to covid19. For example, fcc saved 200 million for telehealth programs that is designed to provide immediate assistance to eligible Healthcare Providers to support their broadband beads. The care act also provided 13 billion through the department of education to the board of student learning. These resources can be used to ensure that students have access mo broadband and equipment to continue their learning from homewood. Todays hearing is an opportunity to discuss what more can bee done to address the immediate connectivity needs. Critical efforts to expand Broadband Access dependent on accurate identifying underserved areas and communities. The broadband data act which was recently signed into law will help provide the fcc with more precise data about where ngoadband is available and where it is not in their web the sec will begin rolling out new and improved programs such as 5g but beans. Of susie is currently seeking on whether to implement the broadband data act before moving forward with the 5g fund. This program will succeed only if the sec follows the law. I look forward to working with the probations committee to ensure that the commission as the funding it needs to implement the broadband data act. There have been several legislative proposals in both chambers of congress to prioritize the delivery of Broadband Services during this outbreak. I hope witnesses will discuss what they will provide immediate relief and productivity to americans. We also need a regular three framework that fosters embezzlement and promotes broadband deployment. I would board to ensure all levels of government have the appropriate regulatory processes in place to promote rather than create barriers to broadband bill. This includes making sure broadband providers have accessi to permits in a timely manner to maintain and upgrade their networks to support increased demand for Internet Services. As more americans rely other Internet Connections to maintain contact with colleagues and loved ones enhancing Network Security and resiliency is also a top priority for this committee and i hope to learn more about how it dedicating the resources to the fccs nearly authorized rip and replace program in addition to other initiatives will help keep our networks secured and enhance our ability to get americans back to work and expand Broadband Access. Finally, i wish to thank our countries Broadband Network providers and technicians for their tireless effort to make sure americans stay connected during this pandemic. Thank you to all of those individuals, unlike in other countries the surge in only traffic and bandwidth consumption in the United States has not diminished network performance. Nor has the required a slowing of olive services and applications but instead has provided to meet the growing demand in allowing americans toa continue to join highquality Internet Services throughout this pandemic. That is a fine acknowledgment. I think the witnesses again for being here and for participatini remotely and with that i will turn to my dear friend and Ranking Member senator cantwell for her opening remarks. Thank you, mr. Chairman and thank you for holding this important. And thank you to our witnesses for appearing today both in person and virtually to discuss solutions, the covid crisis has made it Crystal Clear that functioning broadband is absolutely necessary for every american home. We spent time in this committee over the past several years talking about the persistent doodle divide and the harms of the gum to both our economy and society. We have not done enough to close that b divide. We now are in the middle of ah crisis where people who are disconnected from school, work, healthcare, friends and family need access urgently. Stayed connected is as critical as ever and is one of our witnesses will say today, mr. Kimmelman broadband is essential but right now its about universal access. It is no wonder that according to pew research the majority of americans now consider broadband iconic to tv to be essential in their lives. Yet millions of American Families still do not have access to the essential service. The fcc reports that 18 million americans lack access to broadband and support the number of a suspected number of significantly higher. Millions of americans have Internet Connections that can support essential applications and software for Remote Learning but there are many who cannot. The glaring disparities between those who cannot now afford to deliver those services into the home because of cost is also something this committee should consider. That is why we must address our shortterm emergency means and also invest in closing the Digital Divide. Put it into perspective the few research nationally showed 35 of household with schoolage children with annual incomes below 30000 do not have access to highspeed internet at home, 25 of american africanamerican homes and 23 of hispanic homes with schoolage children do notn have access to highspeed internet. In the state of washington more than two thirds of our School Districts responded to a recent survey showing that some of the families could just simply not afford Broadband Services. State wide 60 of families with children had no access to broadband and the Spokane School district did a survey of 34 different schools abound bearing degrees of conductivity and concerns by teachers about who could fully engage in distance learning. That is why i want to thank senator markey for his tireless efforts to close the homework gap. Im proud to be a cosponsor of legislation that he has for emergency sec rate funding to address this need and try to close the gap and also covid has demonstrated the importance of healthcare during this crisis. Covid19 has changed the Healthcare Delivery system, primary care physicians are closing their offices around the country to inpatient care and people are afraid to go to the hospitals to seek out necessary care because of the infection so telehealth has become the best way to protect the public during the covid crisis. Clinics in my state have transition to using telehealth as the First Contact with each bay stand. In fact, some clinics in my state report around 80 of their initial contacts with patientsta now occurring online. That is why its important to to make sure the people have access to broadband if our Healthcare Delivery system in an initial context will move in that direction. Us the cdc recommends that Health Clinics throughout the country use their remote contact with patients as the first line of defense and that only works as those clinics and those patients have broadband. A recent brookings report cited the lack of broadband or insufficient Broadband Service to support remote diagnostics as a key barrier to widespread use of telehealth. I want to thank the lord colleagues, the senator who has been leading the charge is 40 telehealth baggage as part of the next covid roundup packages and we need to make sure the services are widely available allowing patients to access the care they need. The added benefit for doctors is they can care for more patients in a day and take the pressure off their colleagues who are dealing with the covid crisis. Broadband also can help with the understanding of covid19 and the fcc has already compared Health Outcomes like diabetes with broadband, availability and i want to thank senator rosen for her work pressing the fcc to study additional issues like maternal Health Outcomes and other issues related to broadband availability. Lastly, mr. Chairman, i want to bring up Indian Country. This represents a nearly 27 points cap in nontribal to tribal areas when it comes to Broadband Access. This gap only widens according to a report by the fcc. 31 of household on tribal land lack access to highspeed broadband compared to 7 in nontribal areas. I want to thank my colleagues, senator udall and tester for their continued work in itdelivering broadband to Indian Country and it is clear we have to make sure that new tools are put in place to make up for the shortfalls we currently see. Broadband activity can be a great equalizer in this country but if access is not there then we can see right here and now it during the covid crisis the challenges to our education system, Healthcare System and just basic contacts with families and loved ones. I look forward to hearing from the Witnesses Today and what we can do to close this gap immediately. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator cantwell. We will begin our testimony with accepting People Statements from all four of oure witnesses. They will be included in their entirety in the record at this point and we will ask each witness to summarize his or her testimony in approximately five minutes, beginning with mr. Steven berry. Mr. Barry, you are recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Can you hear, is this on . Okay. Chairman wicker, Ranking Member cantwell and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify about how competitive carriers have gone above and beyond to keep americans connected during the covid19 pandemic. We are thehe leading association for competitive wireless providers for our members range from small rural carriers serving less than 5000 customers to the regional and nation providers serving millions of customers. As a country faces the largest Public Health crisis of our lifetime i am proud of how the members have worked to maintain connectivity in the face of unprecedented demands for tillich mitigation services. Across every aspect of daytoday life as economic educational, health and social connections move online to stay connected while staying apart. Tethering uses up significantly and one member reported educational cap usage up nearly 150 . Despite the increase and Network Usage i can report competitive carriers have proven to be up to the task and have taken extraordinary measures to maintain connectivity. I also applaud the fcc for helping carriers temporarily tap into a pool of unutilized spectrum to meet these demands. I hope this experience will encourage additionals , innovate uses of spectrum partitioning and disaggregation going forward. Of course, networks cannot function without the men and women who work everyday to preserve and expand Broadband Services. It is imperative to keep these professional safe and healthy and to maintain connectivity for all and they must have reliable access to ppe. To help their customers many cca members signed on to the keep americas connected pledge and the wave fees and maintain. Service whether signatories to the pledge or not, cca members of all sizes are helping the communities stay connected by offering billing credits, adding Additional Data capacities, standing up new sites to provide service for educational use and even working with local p Health Centers to develop triage applicationsap and after all, ca members have been a vital part of their communities for years and that is just what you do for your friends and neighbors. These efforts, and no immediatee cost to consumers but can draw significant resources from the carriers providing these services. To be candid, carriers, especially small carriers, are excusing many of the same economic challenges as every Small Business. As the National Emergency continues consumers may accrue significant balances on accounts for Communication Services and to assist these consumers cca supports the stay connected about your proposal. The stay connected voucher is the missing element to help consumers remain connected without later facing bill shock and undue hardships. Its a Technology Neutral approach that empowers consumers by giving them the ability to determine which services are most important during this difficult times and importantly, it builds on Congress Work in the cares act itself it would not require new eligibility or verification processes. The pandemic has underscored the significant disconnect experience between those of the wrong side of the Digital Divide. The bridge this divide we will focus on updating our nations mobile broadband coverage maps. I congratulate determine wicker and his committee for your work to enact with bipartisan broadband data acts. The fccs to begin immediately to work to able with the mobile provisions of the law as directed by congress and use the newly collected data to guide ffe proposed 9,000,000,000. 5 g program. Finally, our Networks Must be secure and thank you for your efforts to create a secure and trusted Communication Networks reimbursement program. We join with chairman pai in urging congress to fully fund this program to provide carriers with the resources necessary to maintain connectivity for the customers while complying with the National Security directives. The lack of funding is huge and its a huge impediment to achieving this priority. As our nation to shifts from relief to recovery all americans are facing challenging times and its very clear, connectivity is critical and worth additional investment especially in Rural America. Cca stands ready to work with you and thank you for the opportunity to testify and i welcome your questions. Thank youou very much, mr. Barry. Next, the committee will hear from ms. Shirley bloomfield to the executive officer in pca, the Rural Broadband association and this is a big room and you are cleared out at the other end so if all of us could speak directly into the microphones it would help folks like me. W excellent. Determine wicker, Ranking Member cantwell, numbers of the committee we are delighted to be able to testify before you today and i am shirley bluefield, ceo and we represent 850 communitybased carriers across the country who are small broadband providers as well as Small Businesses in 45 states. The pandemic has highlighted more than ever the robust and reliable broadband is essential for everyday life. Even in the time of crisis the stories of selflessness and creative acts by ntc members a constante as ,eminder that when the tough get going, the tough get innovating. Thanks to their community and the support of this committee and their entrepreneurial spirit like the the communitybased providers were well compared to keepep americans connected durig a crisis. That is because the ntc eight members have led the charge in building future proved Broadband Networks for years with over 60 of the rural customers having access to five fiber conic activity and speeds in excess of 100 megabits. As hometown providers its not surprising that more than half of the signers of the sccs chairmans pledge to keep americans connected art ntc yoght members. In so many have gone above and beyond that pledge in terms of keeping their families and friends and neighbors connected. Smart Rural Community carriers from big bens in texas extending their [inaudible] working with School Administrators connect over 100 students in three days and pump up all their consumers to the next tier of service for free to teams in North Carolina who we merely offered broadband at no cost to households with students, including College Students who had no connectivity and then there is the hundreds and hundreds of hotspots, wifi connectivity that has been rolled out into these communities and that is a tiny mpsampling of what the members e doing to help ensure that the real communities are able to navigate the many difficulties brought on by the pandemic. Despite the pandemic members report that they are hoping to hold fast plans for continuing to deploy new broadband in the infrastructure that they plan to roll out but the challenges certainly persist and providersg are doing everything they can to keep everybodys internet lights on but to do that they need to okeep their own lights on and increasing number of customerscu are becoming unable to pay for service and members are concerned aboutan their abilityo repay loans and purchase critical supplies like routers, fiber, access to the internet and of course, they have to pay their own employees as well paid none of these costs are things that can civilly barter away or ignore. Speaking of employees, sourcing personal protective equipmentgg continues to be a struggle. It is critical for our members to obtain access to masks my disinfectant wipes, gloves, Hand Sanitizers, especially to anyone who wants to reopen the economy. Concerns about delays in the supply chain for equipment could also hinder deployment plans later this year. Tweve often encountered frustration when it comes to the Paycheck Protection Program. All this Program Offers help there is confusion among stakeholders on whether certain kinds of Small Businesses such as cooperatives even qualify. Some of these challenges they recommend the Congress View the challenges ahead as required on mix of nearterm and longerterm solutions. In the near term we need votes to make sure that those not currently connected get connected and to make sure that those who are connected can stay connected. We applaud the fcc for taking quick action to make programs more accessible to those in need an expanded emergency broadband benefits for consumers in distress will certainly help. These steps alone will not keep every american connected. We therefore also encouraged congress to pass the keeping critical connections act which ens introduced by senators klobuchar and senators kramer with a bicameral bill which has 30 Senate Cosponsors including nine members of this committee and we would create temporary Emergency Fund to keep americans during the pandemic. In the longer Term Congress should adopt a forever connected perspective when it comes to promoting broadband. From the alaskan bush to the mississippi delta no americans should get secondclass Broadband Service or worse yet, no service at all. While they have is fromns structures that continue to be put forth we believe the best approach is to avoid creating new programs and to instead leverage the existing broadbandt program that had been improved a on as times has gone on. Ntc eight recommends five simple principles to guide a forever connected approach paid first, leverage existing broadband to get the immediate return on investment while also avoiding confusion and potential interagency conflicts. Second prevent duplication of scarce federal resources by requiring all agencies to strictly coordinatee use of ther program. Three, require all agencies to use updated broadband maps and meaningful challenge processes to ensure that unserved areas are accurately identified and served. For, invest in technology that can be easily upgraded to deliver the fastest speeds over the longterm life of the assets. We certainly would not use our Highway Program to create a two lane road when we know that an eight lane highway is what will be needed fiveten years down the road. We should approach broadband infrastructures the same way. Remember, a number five that any program must focus, not only on building the Broadband Network itself, but also sustain that network over time once its been built. We are all of us together in the work that congress is doing will be essential to see us through this crisis and make a Lasting Impact for future generations to come. Thank you for the opportunity to join you today and i look forward to your questions. Thank you, ms. Bloomfield. Let me just say at this point is one of the ones who met late into the night developing the cares act, i see no reason why a 501c12 non profit cooperative who is otherwise qualified should be prohibited from participating in the Paycheck Protection Program and i have urged treasury to make that decision earlier and i hope we can get a positive answer soon. I think the committee for indulging me there. And now, mr. Kimmelman, Senior Advisor to Public Knowledge avoids us remotely and mr. Kimmelman, we are delighted to have you and we take as opportunity to bake the technicians who have made this possible spirit goes, they do so much, mr. Chairman. Senator cantwell and numbers of the committee from a have a Public Knowledge i truly appreciate this invitation to testify this morning. Just think of the gut pods though this virus has delivered to all of us. It has demonstrated just howst dependent we are on a highquality fast speed of video capable broadband [audio difficulties] if you could hold up and restore the audio. We were doing so well. We need this service. The education of our children is now fully dependent on highspeed broadband and gettine food and supplies in the delivery of care like senator cantwell minted, broadband has become the true lifeline to our functioning today. Does he imagine what it is like to be among the 42 million americans who dont have access, access to the wired broadband to deliver that type of productivity. For the 26 of Rural Americans who cant get it fast enough broadband and the more than 50 of people on the rural tribal lands who lack wireline broadband, the 12 million plus students who lack access to internet at home and the millions of low income households, many elderly and almost 40 are black and latino also does not afford a high praise of broadband. Yes, we are all struggling but these people are virtually helpless and they need identity immediately. Unfortunately, the absolutely is abandoned its most effective dual for overseas broadband led some of this these have not are experiencing could be mitigated. We appreciate all of the industrys voluntary efforts to provide some assistance to those it be the end it is truly helpful and we are extremely appreciative of the goggins recovery together in a bipartisan way to provide Critical Resources for individuals was Small Businesses and those that lost their jobs. We hope it is that the demand discarding ideological differences to unite for the good of the country that will continue. First, we urge you to commit as many resources as you canes to address [inaudible] during this emergency given how essential highspeed internet is to daily life they all need resourcing. We have particularly appreciated as easy commissioner [inaudible] leadership in the charge to take care of kids who cant do their homework with the lack of broadband. We need to fixwe that and all these other affordability problems. Most importantly, mr. Chairman, we need a longterm solution to the Digital Divide. Broadband has become, not just ease and sold to individuals and households, but it is fundamentally intertwined with many of our most important societal needs and critical for the path forward out of this crisis. It needs to jumpstart our economy and we will need the full access to the internet for as many people as possible. This is to educate our kids, keep families and relationships going out. Reported and we all believe speed internet. To practice our social did succeed in the do our jobs and to avoid on the very trouble we all believe the internet. To support our democracy we need a local journalist that could clean up the disinformation, the falsehoods of that are flowing on the internet in order to make sure we can tell fact from fiction. Ludvig stood the bipartisan spirit that you sold in the most recent legislation to a commitment reliable, portable, universally, highquality broadband for all americans. To help speed up this recovery and move us to a path back to normalcy. Thank you so much, mr. Chairman. We now turn to mr. Jonathan spalter, president and coo of the u. S. Telecom. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I am jonathan spalter. I dont think ive ever been more proud to be the president and ceo of u. S. Telecom. Whats required during these Uncertain Times to keep our citizens connected, and im really grateful to have this opportunity. Our members are taking and also what is required during these times to keep our citizens connected and im grateful to have this opportunity. We dont have to go very far to tell this story. If we were to walk out of this building, go a mile and a half up we went to ge would get to te Washington Convention center and there you would find not outoftown visitors, but the army corps of engineers, u. S. Telecom members working sidebyside in 12 hour shifts ins harms way to convert the center into the worldclass emergency field hospital. The teams are doing this work and 17 Convention Centers across the country with another dozen or so on standby just in case the communities need to ramp up at the last moment Emergency Services quickly. Here is the bottom line, they are operating at an 85 loss and standby teams are at a total loss with no guarantee of cost recovery. I asked the board member who was also on our board of directors why do you do it, and his answer was there was never any question. These are our communities. This is the story of all of our Member Companies that u. S. Telecom, whether its at t, just one instance, 10 million to spend learning Connection Fund resting more in alpine texas, reallocating broadband resources and redirecting them into the homes of students and families to ensure they continue to learn at home in west texas. To the 55 million so far contribution to push back against the Global Crisis century link donating time and equipment to u. S. Navy hospital in a mere 48 hours in its new home port on the part of los angeles. Our companies have always gone above and beyond, pledge or no pledge and never do we stand taller than in a time of crisis and at the same can be set up your networks. Among the ten largest countries in the world, the u. S. Is the only nation that recorded no substantial degradation in terms of speed last month in april unlike thoseoa that took a more heavily regulated path to the broadband infrastructure which has led to significant underinvestment in the Network Capacity and performance. As the world shuts down the u. S. Internet remains open. Weve demonstrated americans can count on their network if they are connected to it. So, where do we go from here in closing the Digital Divide, decisively. We must pursue a permanent fix to the universal service one that puts the Digital Divide in the rearview of the nation once and for all. We need to evaluate carefully the cost would be the speed and capacity and timeline and we need to be Crystal Clear about the underlining principle that wilwas the year the publicprive partnership forward to get the job done. We are ready to start now. U. S. Telecom delivered last year a blueprint for broadband every home and business that remains underserved in the nation, congress greenlighted this approach and thank you for that now we needed funding. Further we get to work. We should rely on programs we know have been stress tested the. Both private and public and move forward with determination. I will conclude with the words of my board member at the beginning of her is no question that is the right thing to do but history look back on our service yours and ours on the frontline of an essential industry and say there was never any question every american should be connected. If not now pummeled when and if not, who. Thank you. We have votes beginning at noon. Lets agree we are going to enforce the fiveminute rule and that doesnt mean getting all of your questions in five minutes. Its a question and answer in five minutes and they will try to get us all a chance to do that. How much is that going to cost in your estimation and how important is that . Thank you for your support of that important legislation we are grateful for it. We expected, we undertook the pilot studies and weve been able to model the scale and International Maps done at the cost of about 25 million give or take with the annual plus ups to maintain the exercise going forward. We think we can also do it now that we have undertaken that important work in modeling maps. We thinknk we can get and deplod nationally in a matter of months. I began in my testimony talking about the fact that we have seen Internet Usage increased by 47 since the pandemic began. I made the statement that the networks are performing and responding well to this dramatic increase in usage. Lets ask all of you to comment on this. Have i got it right and if we are doing better, why is that . We will do you and then go back. Perfect. We have definitely seen an increase up to about 40 . The interesting thing is we focus so much on download speeds and what we are seeing is the upload speeds also have the need for that increasing as well. Particularly because we are using twoway communication, so i think that is going to be important to continue to build these networks. Thats why i think even though we are seeing the length of the time because people are working from home and students are taking their classes from home so we are not seeing a time when people are streaming videos at yonight to relax. Just a heavy use of the network but it didnt upload and download speed and that is why we are so bullish about the fact you also forget the sight of investment because that is allowing the networks to sustain. Are we doing well on the uploads and downloads . Thats the beauty of fiber. Thank you mr. Chairman. Get closer to the microphone. I is that good . Okay. Thank you. Wireless is a little different in the sense that our networks are resilient because many are selfcontained especially in the rural areas theyve built the network that they would like to utilize. Then the possibility of innovation, they build in the possibility of competing with other carriers in the network. I think just in the United States saber and wirelessly built to connect with other networks that have very High Quality Service standards so that you know what you are getting wheyouregetting when yh the network and there is some resiliency in multiple access to the network, so we not only have a wireline debility but we have the fixed wireless, provided by the Cable Companies as wel as ws why youre lining and many of the others using microwaves, so we have a variety of opportunities to modify and provide diversity in the network itself. One of the things that was mentioned as the entrepreneurial spirit, there is this idea that they can build a Better Network and attract more customers and keep them because they provide Better Service and thatbe is why theyve been doing this for 25 or 30 years. We have a minute now to squeeze you into this topic. I will be very quick. We are monitoring the performance of the Network Capacity. We publish the data on the website. We have needed the abilit may to have a policy framework that allows the incentivized Network Investment by our sector upwards of 70 billion annually this flexible forwardlooking approach has given us the ability to keep a new normal performance during the times of search and emergency and thats thitsthe key ingredient is goio keep it going forward. Thank you mr. Chairman. I certainly hope they are doing that kind of performance and focus but just ask the constituents and people in Rural America all kinds of problems getting connected and keeping speeds up and they have some of the same problems. I would say your constituents could better answer that and i appreciatec you getting the service to prove it. There are a lot of gaps and they hope the companies are senator cantwell. We are hearing you loud and clear by the way. I wanted to ask you, your testimony i think you have a longer version that cited many issues calling for comprehensive package that goes beyond shortterm measures and i couldnt agree with you more. I think the witnesses have outlined why this is so critical that what are the solutions. You mentioned a couple of things in your testimony more competition, some reliance on municipal entities and defend this example that you have in one of the hardest hit spots come i think it is the most hard hit where 30 of students do not have access to Internet Services. So, what one or two things should we be doing now to try to address this in a more comprehensive way, and i am intrigued by your statement of the press and the delivery of information. We have been pushing to have the next coverage to make sure that broadcasters and news entity can apply as well because we have tens of thousands if not more from broadcasters and i want the local information to be there so if you have any other ideas i would like to hear from them but we be doing on broadband now to be more comprehensive . You have to first of all expanded the lifeline initiatives. That is the stopgap to get us and update the universal service fund. We need blog contributions to the because they take a lot more money. The infrastructure is expensive. That is why we call for sharing. The oversight and competition is critical because we know we are not regulating every job here. So there is a variety participating board to open the door to competition. Dont let the states block the competition in broadband and for the democracy what we have learned is that as we rely from broadcasters increasingly depends on internet delivery and the digital marketplace we are seeing the revenue will come from broadcasting. Its about the virus and its dangerous to our democracy is that it is a Specialized Fund and restores to support the Fact Checking and helping people navigate the way to get around this information and falsehood. So i would call that a comprehensive program to update the law and address all of this together because all of these issues are intertwined. Thank you. Thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator cantwell. Senator blunt. Thank you, chairman. Great to be with you and to be part of this hearing. One of the hearings we have done in the last few days using a technology we havent used before where some of us are in the hearing room and some are not, some of the witnesses are in the hearing room and others are immortals. I think what we have seen in the last several weeks is a huge leap forward in peoples not only willingness to use technology, but also greater understanding of our independence on the technology. What if you dont have even the possibility of access to the first question on access to come and anybody that wants to answer this question for the record, certainly you could. Would there be a merit for the Congress Beginning to set up some deadlines of our own on how quickly the distributions need to occur i know we can move the september deadline forward even if that was if all we did is make the september deadline mandatory would it be helpful or not i think theyve done a good job as they get prepared for the Opportunity Fund a. I think they are on track and we need to make sure we know where those that have served and those that are underserved and those i think the ability to start some of the initiatives that can also get support i think this puts us in a good timeframe. I think we are on track and we need to unify the program working out of the usda. In concert those programs can do someme significant good. I believe that is right and i think all of us believe we cant continue to delay muchd longer. Theyve moved forward in good faith here but at some point we might decide there have to be more parameters on those things have to occur. On the other topic of access but no affordability, what you talk a little bit about what we might do to help people get access to this effort that could be telemedicine and for most that are in elementary and secondary school or even college or the last several months could we be doing more to help people be part of that process . I truly believe so. The program that was mentioned, senator markey encouraged filling in some of the gaps on the educational side. We need a rollout of Broadband Services but also include fiber ecand wireless and in many cases the Wireless Connection may be the fastest opportunity to connect especially in those areas that are not connected that i cant say enough we have to find d where those places ar. We need the broadband data act that you passed in this committee and we need to get on with where our the needs and then lets find the money to fill the gaps and i would suggest hes absolutely right we need contribution reform under the program. If you are basing that on the revenue from the wireline declining fund the cost gets up to 25 of the bill because youre making contributions, you are pushing an envelope and not getting any more money to do what everybody has said and that is we need more relative to those underserved or not connected and we need to find those places first. Think thats the committee did that and now we need to get on with the business of what is the resource requirement to actually getting it done . Thank you, mr. Chairman. Now we move to senator klobuchar, you are recognized. Thank you very much mr. Chairman and to you and senator cantwell and for the work they have done to make these hearings a reality. I wanted to start with this disparity that we are seeing an ipod senator cantwell did such a great job. In the country wher a country we now being asked to learn from home and the disparity when they dont even have access to the internet we have a story out in minnesota where one of our tribal communities the kids gathered in the front yard and we cant have that continue into the summer so my first question, you mentioned the bill with 28 cosponsors with republicans and democrats on the bill that allows the smaller providers to keep providing service. The last thing they want to do is cut off service. Can you explain why that is so important . Thank you for your leadership in the legislation and im proud to say we are down to 30 members in the senate and committee. People will not be cut off of the Critical Service right now because of economic hardships and students will be connected. What the bill does is basically allow the companies to make that up between what the customers cannot afford to pay anymore and to continue to keep thehe servie up at that level or even a higher level. So you think about it as essential services. I think about the analogies at the Grocery Store or newspapers. They are essential right now. The ability to become clinicians to connect and upgrade the speed for those that are now working from home. So the bill actually helps to create that in what people cannot afford to pay any longer. That in conjunction with the Lifeline Program can be powerful at this point in time for this support is essential if we are going to say the broadband tinnectivity is what we need right now. Its great to be necessary to ensure that they can continue to operate. Xcall of the people on assisd living that are no longer able to see their loved ones except virtually and it is a lonely system and we all know how scary this is right now and we have sadly lost so many. In your testimony you highlight how many cannot connect with their friends and family and to facilitate the virtual visits. Can you talk briefly about this . We also support the other bill and we think that its a central for the companies to be there and for consumers to even have the access to broadband so obviously this has shown us we cannot communicate and keep up with our families and those particularly that have special needs like those in assisted living more fully dependent on highspeed internetth connection to just interact and get a sense of how their life is going and what they need from us and what we can do for them to keep people working their way through this and try to deal with the struggles of the dangers of the pandemic so its just become Crystal Clear that its fundamental and we need to build that into the system. You know we are working the Lifeline Program you noted 40 are eligible for the lifetime subscribed and that is something we want to continue to focus on and then finally just this week we put up the connectivity act to create a fund to help our College Students that are in the same problem and theyve worked so hard to get into college and now they are unable to compete and be part of the college experience. These are all critical needs of first bill was sponsored by senator heinz a longy time agos we continue to make short affordability is there for everyone. In i do want to thank you for your leadership on the committee in helping to make the technology possible and to smooth the way for a different day and approach in being able to hold these hearings remotely. Senator fisher, you are recognized. We have heard from some of my other colleagues about the challenges that the students are facing right now when it comes to trying to work at home and for those who dont have that access, it isnt just the effect of the pandemic but also the Ripple Effect and how this is affecting their lives not having that. We all know that expanding broadband takes time and investment. But i would like to begin with you and ask if you have any ideas on any kind of shortterm strategies that we can look at for this connectivity that can support the students that are home right now and are trying to maintain and grow in a different environment with regards to their education. We are already seeing extraordinary steps being taken by providers including right in your state Companies Like the great plains that have been expending installations to families that have students in need to move forward but its others that are getting exactly the same kind of work in your state and across the country. I wrote a letter to the commissioners at the outset saying that we needed to move rapidly to establish Emergency Funding programs that came akin to the lifeline or to be able to accelerate and get Broadband Service to the communities. We have to be innovative and continue the innovation. When we look at part worships the always talk about publicprivate partnerships. This is such an important move for the days that we are looking at right now, having schools be able to part you are not just with other Government Entities and not just looking for funding but to be able to partner with small companies. He mentioned so many that we have in nebraska and a step forward. What else can we do to encourage that kind of partnership to encourage the interested parties to be able to reach out and move us forward at a quicker pace . I mention how lon mentioned howo get anything built out when it comes to infrastructure. That really applies to broadband. So, how are we going to do this in a timely manner and be ready for not just partisan future but are we going to be ready in another month or two . Not only that, senator, but i think of a certain look and see what is going to happen in the poll. We are getting into the school year but we need to get ready that this is not just a twomonth blitz. We have to be ready to continue his education at home and i think your point about partnership is so important. One of the things my companies have the advantage in that they are communitybased but i still think Everybody Needs that a little bit of a push to say talk to your local Health Clinic ands superintendents. When we saw folks taking action fast itha was those that have te relationships they knew they could go to the administrator and say who in your School District doesnt have broadband and who do we need to reach out to to connect and be in broadband in a box to get them up and running and i would say the same with tele health. Right now we are not seeing a lot of that going to the small clinics. Getting the carriers and Public Officials having those conversations and maybe even having folks like you facilitate some of those will kickos that off. Thank you very mucht mr. Chairman. If i may, senator fisher, one of the things that isnt normally known as there are impediments in the program that sometimes keep the carriers from reaching out and doing that. The fcc was pretty good at lifting some of the requirements for donations. We have those that have given tablets to members that they couldnt have given before and thats been very much appreciated and something we ought to think about going forward. We can talk laters about th. My time has expired. Im told the senator udall is next. Thank you, mr. Chairman and Ranking Member cantwell. Its great to be with you today. Todays hearing is titled the state of broadband. The state of broadband throughoutut the country depends on where you live. If you are located in Indian Country the state of broadband is unacceptable and im glad senator klobuchar raised the issue as far as the minnesota tribes across the nation. Prior to coronavirus, tribal communities were significantly behind much of the nation in terms of affordable Broadband Service. Sadly the pandemic has only exacerbated this. The triplero communities grapple with response and must simultaneously adjust through an increasingly broadband reliant society. Now more than ever Broadband Service is critical, telemedicine, Online Education and working. My billon for bridging this act sought to update resources to rapidly address this inequity. One provision of the bill created a Tribal Society under the universal service fund similar to the tribal mobility fund. This is a question to all of the panelists here. What should congress and the fcc do to bridge the tribal Digital Divide int and do you support further satisfied universal Service Funds for the tribal communities . Its good to see you again even if virtually. I would be happy to take a close look at the tribal Digital Divide act but you and senators cantwell andic gardiner have put forward. I can tell you our industry is doing our best to work closely and in close coordination with the community and is committed to working closely with them. I know senator cantwell has worked with the senator on the Olympic Peninsula to occupy by the tribe there and coast guard station its very much in need of Broadband Service. Recently the novel donation leadership worked to expedite permitting rightsofway issues that were impeding the Speedy Delivery of broadband to the land in arizona, utah and new mexicoay and Frontier Communications working with them getting this permitting streamlining done now was able to actually deliver broadband to those communities that are being hit the hardest by coronavirus. There are a number of steps and i look forward to your legislation in the days ahead. Thank you. Senator, i would say obviously the tribal lands have a unique challenges. We would also be interested in the legislation. We have a number of triple communication companies. And i would go back to the point that has been made about competition reform because there are so many different needs that we have to use that support in ways to bridge some of the divides. They are doing Amazing Things and bringing remote Broadband Access to the folks on the reservation right now and doing some Amazing Things in innovative ways and im proud of the work that they are doing. Seen here, senator. We have several members that service the tribal lands. A good example is new mexico and arizona applied for the special temporary authority permits to increase access to the spectrum and they were able to turn 54 sites doubling capacity literally in a weeks time five to six days in the very tribal lands that we care so much about serving more, and i think some of those lessons that we are learning now in the spectrum disaggregation and petition should be a explored as we move from relief to a more normal process so we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with you on the legislation and i think it is a very much needed initiative. Senator, we support the legislation and we think it is critical and we appreciate your leadership along with senator cantwell in highlighting this important inequity. We should immediately be pushing them to use the Lifeline Program to make more Resources Available for the tribal lands. Thank you. I was healed back, mr. Chairman. We have seen now more than ever we stay connected to our families and friends and just to the importance of the reliable Internet Connectivity and two in short all parts of reliable access to Broadband Service is bsitical without access to these we wouldnt have students continuing their education through the district learning. Many parts of the countrys workforce we wouldnt be able to provide essential services to many individuals. Throughout the pandemic ive been encouraged by the performance carriers by and large are meeting the consumers demands even with the unprecedented amount of traffic on the networks expected to eep connected so we thank you for that. This is different from what we are seeing a different parts of the world. Take for example europe that has been under approach to the services. This has resulted in fou in fars investment in communications networkco expansion and now they up with thekeep demands because of this approach to the broadband regulation by the federal government in the uniteUnited StatesUnited Statess to expand significantly including some of those rural areas of the country. If we want the internet to continue to thrive in this economic innovation and advancement, we should ensure that our policies continue to encourage more investment by the private sector in the communications networks. Could you talk about what impact the current u. S. Broadband regulatory climate has had on the broadband especially in the rural areas and would you expect the same level of investment was more heavily regulated . We are seeing the ability to expand Broadband Access albeit still work to be done is a direct result and no accident to that light touch flexible forwardlooking bipartisan approach that has been the hallmark ofil the policy for a generation. The reason american Broadband Companies can invest upwards of 70 billion annually on the nations infrastructure to bring broadband in the best in the world broadband to the citizens is directly related to the policy framework. If we want to continue the runway for this kind ofof progress, as we trained it to the new generations of service and to fundamentally to the do e important work of closing the divide once andhe for all, that framework is a critical input and without it, we are going to regress, not progress. Youve referenced that in your testimony as well. Can you expand on those regulatory burdens and how they will continue once the pandemic is over especially when we think aboutan transitioning to these technologies . Thank you, senator. Your streamline sole siting act is something we very much support and appreciate the effort. As we move forward we are seeing a lot of needs for licensing and permitting because the local counties, state governments that approved the permits are sheltering in place also. So, i think that we are going to see an opportunity right after the pandemic crisis to have a new initiative in building out their mobile broadband the Rural Broadband especially in the rural areas where you need to approve the site and especially on federal land. So, thank you for that legislative initiative. Thank you. Ms. Bloomfield, it is clear this pandemic has highlighted the importance of the reliable Broadband Services and i know that you have spoken to this already but what steps should Congress Take to ensure a these areas are getting access to the services . Thank you very much, senator. I think youve also taken a huge step by initiating visa so we can kind of do it right, do it smart. As we talked about in the panel today, it isnt a cheap proposition. We know how critical is that we have seen over the past few months its more critical than we knew. So, the key is to do it right and pick thedo best use of the resource to take the programs that weve got like the upcoming to take the reconnect support from the usda. Hows do you marry those progras together and then how do you also interject potentially with the state initiatives might be said you are getting the best bang for the buck and reaching g them as americans and making sure we are not doing this again in another five to ten years. Very quickly as a followup to that, because we did pass this and it was referenced how important is it as we employ the new Broadband Networks . I think it is absolutely critical, senator. If you go back to the decade when we did the first broadband map and then the stimulus programs thereafter, it was a shot in the dark. We have an opportunity a decade later through the legislation the committee passed to get it right, and i think that its the old saying i think if you only have 9 billion over ten years for a mobile product and you have about three times that on the wireline products, and youve got to get it right and a would hate to think that we are going to overlook those areas that could and should and do very weldo verywell need to be d because we dont know where they are. It boggles my mind we cannot focus the resources in the areas that are the most need. Senator tester, are you with us . I want to followup on where we just left off. It blows my mind because i am in one of those areas where we do have internet thats pretty good but the problem is this thing right here works only if you hold your mouth in a certain position, and it drives me a little crazy. Mapping has been talked about a couple of times here and i want to direct thisis to you. Can we build out in the uncertain areas without a good Mapping Program . Is that even possible . I checked after the last hearing. Mapping is important and critical. The other part of the component i would add is the challenge process. Part of it is you have people putting in the data and self certifying. The other part is the ability and this is what we did extremely well if it is contested they go out and check and they literally do speed checks and say this is what im getting out on the field. I think those two things go hand in hand with lets get better data and compile it and figure out what they need to know where we need to go but at the same time with nick sure we are able to challenge before they put money on the ground. Just for the record there are claims that this works well. Getting back to the point, and anybody else can answer this. Unlessss theyve changed their position they said we are going to Start Building out because we cant get the information on the maps. I would let somebody else answer as well. The beauty can start with this completely unserved so it allows us to keep the process moving starting where youve got no service, so thats a wise course of action. Senator, let me address that. I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can identify where the holes are by gathering the data. The chairman testified at the Appropriations Committee of three and a half months ago and he said along with what mr. Salter said that its a a matter of months to get the data, not years. And they produced what i call it. Fullstop i is in the fund. We can either spend the money now without knowing where it is going to be infected is going ta have or you can wait for three years to get the right data. They shouldnt be proposed by the agency of expertise. I agree with you 100 . The truth is one thing the pandemic has played out as we need highspeed internet, we need good Cell Phone Service otherwise we do not have sold on systems they leave the service. Do we have the money and if so do we have what we need to protect . We have been getting sufficient amounts of ppe to the members and the angle of the groups sitting here at the table have some experience with fema. Many now see whether it is Hand Sanitizer or gloves we are trying to find and locate providers of the services and goods into clement for the members now because it is getting very difficult to do that. And you are right you cant keep the networks up and running if the employees are not safe when they go to do it. I appreciate the question and i hope that we can get a little better response going forward. I couldnt agree more. We are in by your need to ensure that it has been designated as a Critical Infrastructure our frontline broadband providers are out there every day trying to get installs done to them often in harms way and cant have the protective equipment that is required. We have literally been shipping cost in masks from our office to our members and weve got to make sure thatba pipeline of safety and opportunity for help for the workers is in place and inin tact. Let me just ask you this because we really need to know ms. Bloomfield said with it right upon us, the maps are less of a problem than with the longterm fund because they will serve and be directed towards completely underserved areas. Can we have a Comfort Level their . It would also be benefited by better information, but they have and theyve moved forward and set some deadlines. We have many members looking at that and i would hate to see it moved up because of those that have been planning on participating in the september and october tim timeframe that d be disadvantaged. But i think that everyone could benefit from better data. I was going to give everybody a chance to comment on it. But if everyone would speak to that and answer on the record because we really need to know t that. This thing has got to happen at the timeframe that has been laid out. October will be hereor before yu know it. Things have to unfold before them. But answer on the record, do we have a Comfort Level that that is going to go only to the underserved areas . Next we have senator. Would it surprise you were the witnesses that im going to continue along the line that you just asked about and a member of my colleagues have asked about this morning, the inaccuracy and the consequence of that. When the masks were provided to me months ago you could see that it didnt reflect reality and it would be easy to go places where the math says that there is coverage and it would demonstrate that there isnt. We have been at this for a long time. I visit the hearing that was just described and it seems to t me that too often this has been presented to me and congres at d the senate as a kind of allse or nothing we can use these and get it done or we can modify and it will take a while. I led an effort with the kansas delegation regarding what balance there should be between the accuracy and the granular data, the information we are roking for versus speed of deploying critical broadband funding particularly through the auction. I was going to ask mr. Berry was do we see on one versus the other . Im looking for the same assurance the chair and was asking for. Isnt there a way, is there a way in which we can continue to deploy broadband while we acquire the necessary information to do that accurately and appropriately and while the senate and congress provide Additional Resources to accomplish that . That was an extraordinary letter and brought a lot of like the subject matter. So yes i think we can. Its been five months. Its easier to figure out where it goes and where it stops and who is deserving than the scenario where you have a broad area that is common cold by visit us in the spectrum manipulation, so i think you can do both. Its more focused on the wire line and fixed solution and i o think that in those areas you have a better chance of saying we know there is no line that goes into this place. On the wireless side i think you have to have good data and this committee was very specific in the legislative statute and the terms and conditions and requirements after five months of announcing the fund, i havent heard at one time they asked for additional funds from the subcommittee or this committee or the new mapping Data Collection process its disappointing to say the least. To more rapidly and efficiently more than the members and i say that because our members have deployed more fiber than all other parts of the industry combined. And as experts, i would say that wayes we can move quickly but we need to move forward. Some suggested the competition for the taxpayers potentially with money left on the table by bending the rules now to get money out the door in an i undad way in absence of the competition and the process moving forward with its auction process i think we can go l through this and move very rapidly and the opportunity for congress it is the prerogative to insist. It causes the risk to the program in future deployment, but insists that those companies that have been successful in the census blocks or tracks qualified and approved immediately into the money goes out the door immediately after to do so before by changing the rules to potentially benefit just one competitor and their consultantso would be financiay imprudent and fiscally irresponsible and put taxpayers on the line. We appreciate you indulging us. Senator markey. Getting this pandemic it isnt just the homework, it is a learning gap for the children of the most vulnerable families and that is why yesterday i introduced the educational connections act that would provide 4 billion of funding to ensure that all students have homework access into the devices that they are going to need hrring this pandemic. And im held 45 of my colleagues joined the bill and every member of the committee and it was endorsed by over 50 organizations including the National Education association, the american federation, common sense media, u. S. Telecom. My question as to the entire panel, do you support providing billions of dollars to bridge the funding gap between the Public Health crisis, yes or no . Yes. We believe that there should be emergency programs to supplement and direct dollars for the lifeline and to do so as quickly as we can. Yes. We fully support the effort. I think it is going to be critical to conclude that money they are not the only ones according to an analysis many still lack reliable broadband and that is unacceptable. More than ever we havee seen how necessary it is to the future and thats why ive introduced the plan for the future acts legislation that instructs them National Broadband plan and how the pandemic has c anged. I offered the amendment to thel 2009 recovery act that created the original National Broadband plan and im proud of the roadmap for the connectivity and the amazing progress theyve made over the last ten years but more work remains too be done. Do you agree that we should update the broadband plan in the next relief package . Absolutely cant senator. A i think that it needs to be done in conjunction with getting the money flowing into the initiatives. We cant just do the plan. We have to do all of the other pieces to keep assh many people upon the Broadband Networks. But we need a plan. We must also address the next package every day foran First Responders relying on the spectrum and the provision of holes in 2012 for the required fcc for february of 2021. Thank you mr. Chairman and to our witnesses. It is fair to say each of you have been on the subject for a long time. I enjoyed working with you in the house and moving that reauthorization of the fcc and that could be completed by the Senate Section it did set up ford the highspeed internet i appreciate that you talk about that. I have to tell you bringing this up it is time for us to review that and reform or eliminate and be able to address the portion of the individuals bill one of my topics there has been quite a bit of discussion today and my hope is that the bill addresses because tennessee has 23 percent still without access to highspeed internet. My staff ended up setting up a mobile hotspot that we could use but my provider is on copper without fiber and i am in that area so it does make life difficult for everyone. And i hope you will see not of smart cities but counties in rural areas. As you look for ways to expand access to highspeed internet. Last year senator baldwin and i did the Internet Exchange act and having the is located to have greater volume data we began to rethink the placement and that access because as we have seen people are moving out of the urban pool and to suburban areas for safety and theirr children so if we plan ahead and look at how this pandemic may change how the society chooses to live and work, talk about the necessity. Thank you very much senator. You are spot on why we created the smart role Community Initiative to recognize the rural areas can be attractive places to live. I think we will see some interesting patterns once the economy recovers and People Choose the lifestyle they would like to leadmu would like to commend you on your leadership it is an important tool but what you have been looking to do is make sure it can be affordable so my carriers have internet traffic they have to hand it off to a provider to carry that traffic that could be the most expensive part of thehe transit and part of the cost not going down right now if nothing else they are increasingg so that initiative will definitely make that easier for Robust Networks and connectivity as well as video servicesr to be carried into Rural Communities. Foresight on your part for sure. My hope is we will be mindful of the load and the capacity of daytoday operations and we look at how children are learning and Economic Development is needed to repatriate manufacturing back to the country and i have to tell you a story that i thought was so innovative as School District in alabama had wifi in a school bus in order to help them get their schoolwork done in the pandemic they moved the school buses into the neighborhoods. So a big cheer for wifi and that ability. And the ability for them to handle that workload and to have enough bandwidth to meet the need of the children i thought it was great. So thank you all for your continued support. I yield back. Senator rosen. Thank you chairman and Ranking Members for this hearing and we are on and all the witnesses i appreciate senator blackburn talking about Rural Communities i went to think this committee for helping to get the bipartisan buildingor w block introduced signed into law last year we passed that bill we didnt know well be facing art Global Pandemic that changes the way we provide students with education breaking down barriers for young girls but now as senator fisher mentioned we are dealing with the technological barriers for millions of underserved American Students to be challenged in the rural areas like elko nevada it is ranked the slowest Internet Speed the list you dont want to be on the top. 55 percent of the rural population doesnt have access to highspeed internet. So the population of 20000 made a significant effort to get broadband in their community so leadership should bef commended but so far it still has not received any offers from Telecommunication Companies. I know we will speak to them what could a city like elko do if they have no takers from Telecommunication Companies they need to put internet all over nevada. What suggestions might you have for them . Senator i will start. Some carriers in rural mississippi and the areas that toare difficult to reach have gone around and signed up government businesses, with pre designated locations and once you get enough of those Interested Companies and individuals to sign a on and then to get a loan and actually build not only fixed wireless but that is one area you could do it without Government Support the other is if we get broadband data mapping done that would show up significantly as a whole. Or a gap to target funds already s,available or even some of the existing mobility funds a couple of things you could do immediately but it is up to the local Government Entities to help identify carriers willing to take that risk to go in and build. In the spirit of thinking creatively, it is telling carriers you dont want to upgrade who are not willing to go to the next tier speed to cry uncle i will not serve this area and allow other providers to come in and do the servicear so to get that support is important but what im seeing interesting models where my local communitybased providers are partnering with municipalitieses that can support the Business Model and local Broadband Companies provide the service. We need to think creatively what partnerships can you create in that environment to a done. Job people open to those Business Models will be important. First of all thank you for your question its right to the heart of the sec and congress to achieve 100 percent connectivity across the country and what you referenced what we see today is reflective of major policy different deficiencies not that they dont want to but the underlying policy issues first is incrementalism we are constantly redefining who is served. And as a result we are never able to efficiently reach those who still have no service we talked about funding. We need to ensure it is an extremely expensive proposition so a significant amount of money is required to get the job done. So lets do it today. We have talked about this is the indispensable input that mapping would deliver to ensure we are spending these resources with the accuracy required to reach the truly unserved where broadband is going or not going if we can problem and its in your hands to do that through appropriations, will be much further toward our goal of er100 percent connectivity. Thank you mr. Chairman. Im good. Thank you again. And the Ranking Member just briefly being from West Virginia during this call that experience i have heard n. Anecdotally from a guy who lost his land line 27 days he has no availability for connectivity. That is his only emergency line. One lady has to drive ten or 15 miles to get the connectivity to continue education at West Virginia university remotely and we have these stories across the countryd as pointed out in the statement that West Virginia has taken some money and devoting that to the broadband counsel to have a good assessment of what we have. Sometimes the reason we dont get it deployed were not sure aside from the map being issue what we have in the resources meo the people are interested in deploying this so first i dont want to rehash the questions but you said in your openinge, statement we have usda, fcc, commerce and other dollars coming in from otheri areas, providers. The worst thing we could dod is waste money. That is what has happened so the underserved and unserved areas still are. You have the program forever connected is that aimed at that particular problem . That is my desire we get that coordination because funding is limited and you have to use it wisely. How do we coordinate with what the fcc is doing . You are seeing more critical conversations how do they become part of that how do we make sure if anybody has West Virginia money that does not get them kicked out of eligibility . We need a coordinated approach and thats where congress will take a key role to make sure these agencies are talking and sharing information to coordinate with those dollars go so we canpr use them. Talking to our main provider several years ago i asked what will it take . He said timeal and money. Now were talking about many now is talked about timeline i think one of the Lessons Learned of cove it is connectivity its incredible of the expansions and they like to have those telehealth appointments where do you think we will cease having these conversations and have them may be overexposure to internet or to overbuild . Do you have a six month one year threeyeare plan . The issue is predictable availability. We could spend 1 trillion rolling out broadband but you cant do that all than one year have to have the equipment to put the fiber in the ground and it takes timeed it we had a 50 billiondollar program after contribution reform and you knew that would come through every year and you had maps that were accuratee because in West Virginia i was and davis West Virginia the mayor had three phones because he didnt have coverage. Its a great place to live and work and enjoy the mountains is a very expensive place to build. But if you had that West Virginia could get access to the funds that it needs for broadband and so could the rest of the United States so we have to get serious about reforming the usf contribution factor longterm predictable dollars. Five years. The only way to use efficiently and accurately answer that question is to understand it is a policy question. Our providers are readyllol to o to work to have more customers and close that Digital Divide. Timing is a question to put the resources required to have a universal service and also equally will be accelerated to have the political will to fire up the weed wacker to streamline that federal lands permit is Still Available and to level the playingso field. And the municipal charters are tripledd or quadrupled. My time is up. Thank you mr. Chairman. One talk about firing up that weed wacker i live in a state where two thirds of the land is owned by the federal government and as a result of that unique dynamic meantime we have to cross federal land or use a right of way we experience significant project delays that are tied to federal mandates and regulations and bureaucracy. And why we need more federal funding that should be up for debate we should have that conversation i dont think thats the only conversation we need to have. In the case of utah and states were there is a disproportionate amount of federal land we are reminded we cannot solely spend our way out of the problem. Theres other things we have to work on er look at. But there is significant problems we need to address. What should congress do to streamline the process for broadband deployment . First and foremost theca recognition it is a festering problem i have heard stories from providers in utah and beyondes waiting days and months to get permitting to underserved communities and to suffer through those burdens. The initiative through mobile now to do whatever we can to streamline federal permitting that it is a process to be coordinated tightly and in realtime across agencies pairing responsibilities to make sure from a policy perspective but embedded into the principle that its not money alone that will deliver that promise but smart policies that starts with the process. One of the single biggest disparities is a distinction between rural and non Rural America in terms of access. Would you agree and western states like mine the distinction between rural and nonrural is heavily influenced if not synonymous with federal land issues so Rural Communities throughout the state are awash in federal land. Oddly enough in those areas where we need Broadband Access the most it could be the most difficult to deploy precisely because a labyrinth of federal regulations they have to go through in addition to another process that could take many years that could do more to close the divide of anything we could spend money on state those providers can more easily extend broadband through mountains and they could go through the federal bureaucracy too deploy. Can we better meet the future needs as far as spectrum by doing a careful review of federal spectrum allocations . Yes sir. And then to do a serious deep dive on those spectrum allocations and license use and thats and if we do it sooner rather than later. And the Navajo Nation worked with a carrier with this unusual opportunity to double the speed actually the usage and the capacity because we had more spectrum. If we cannot get there that we will not see theit promise of gigabit wireless for a long time. Im very thankful we have seen the rs to start in june and additional spectrum would be made available down the road. Thank you for the question thats important. Imagine we could do if we had the cooperation of federal agencies including the department of defense with inventory and widespread assessment of the spectrum in federal hands. As the acting chairman i just want to say it is right on with cooperation to help us. Senator baldwin. Thank you to the witnesses for providing such great testimony. As others have observed today a new regard to the use and reliance broadband and highspeed in particular. While this committee has spent a lot of time talking about the need for Broadband Access throughout the United States the covid19 crisis has laid bare the reality of how needed it is. We use broadband to wor work, learn, Access Medical car care, connect with Government Services to take on stay in touch with friends and family and then to order absentee ballots and photo ids. So this crisis in my mind may permanently shift our everyday lives into communication. I want to follow up on the questions and testimony with the increasing importance of upload speeds and the fact we usually look at download speeds. But talk a little bit about what you see changed in the last couple of months in terms of usage of networks and what that involves specifically for telehealth and learning and ywor work. Is not lost on me we are having this hearing using Broadband Connectivity as well the many of you are using it to connect and that is exactly that twoway communication we are seeing the explosion of. And we talked about what are the speeds, what is the right speed but what is most interesting we see people need to upload as quickly as download and to do all of those webex meetings and zoom conferences and the twoway communication tools we think about teachers and the school room trying to teach to 30 children remotely using technology and the children to respond to upload homework, share projectsto, all of that back and forth if we say it may be a different world with the virtual connected world that ability to have that twoway communication will be important we cant do what we are doing if you have that time delay and makes the tool less effective. As we look at networks and appointment that robust nature will be more important than we thought previously because we see how people are using this technology. In the past they were happy to download and respond on emails but if we use it as a tool to stay connected that robust nature will be important. One of the things we talked about is the importance of mapping measure twice before you cut or maps twice before you gig. One of the things im curious about is the information we are getting from schools which of the peoples have access to broadband speeds and access in which dont. Are we using that data at all to inform the map being project . Is it a good idea to do so . I will address that because i thank you have hit something we have not thought a lot about previously. We have a couple carriers that provide connectivity to the schools that did not have wifi broadband connection and then thean school shut down to have 150 students that have no access at home. Our carrier did not know that until the school principalw said we know where they are. And those ipads that are connected. To put the facilities and the school buses and drove those to the neighborhoods where the childreno lived and left the school bus they are to have connectivity. You hit on something to utilize that data and information that the schools have because theres never been a need to share and we can do a lot better job. But the other thing and that concept people working from home thats why we continue to push that d voucher because now you are doing it at home and then you have to pay for it. That consumer will be in a tough find as we go down this road so that you would consider looking at the program as complementary to the klobuchar bill. On be hell off of the chairman i recognize myself theres been a lot of discussion with the great state of alaska so to focus on these issues i do appreciate senator klobuchar and senator udall highlighting the need of native americans and then to emphasize with the tribes or both or as they are in need of support from the federal government places like new mexico and other states and morer to the point something that occurred over the recess that was putting me up with personal attacks on the assistant secretary of interior. And then with the impeccable integrity. To be shameful and unacceptable i need to stop listen to my colleagues. And on this issue of importance. So what else can congress do and rule states like mine . I had a great opportunity to visit Alaska Communications one of the first trips i made in ceo of telecom to understand that complexity and challenges to deliver broadband. What alaska probably has. And with funding of the healthcare so to recognize and then to outpace the amount of those funds so we have to be careful aboutt not putting into place as we were struggling through the ceilings. We need to be cadence through that program thats very important. As a lot of people are talking about healthcare my state was the lead innovator and those that are connected by roads. This is imperative the fcc chairman unfortunately has failed to recognize that i appreciate your thoughts. But let me ask you initial question and the critical connectors act which is more focused and a number of those. So how would that be helpful . And for all the panelists. And then to access that what are you hearing with regard to those issues . And i will open it up for all panelist to address any and all comments and questions i have. Ts there was a lot in there. Will try to go fast. The west is unique why the fcc did the alaska plan to take aal look. We appreciated that. And then to know how quickly time passes so folks in alaska are led by a great state association so that isoa one piece so the key critical connection it is the piece that allows to centrallo providers and then to sustain the networks and then we are delighted you are cosponsoring that. We will move that and the Conference Committee said the leadership and alaska has been critical we provide healthcare insurance to 60000 Rural Americans. To see an increase 45 percent in march 55 percent in april. And then to get those pieces together and to make that conductivity work and with those bureaucracies that go with that. Five members including gci of the association, thank you for your help and constant support and how you serve areas as fast as yourru state to gather frustration i will say we share that. Mentioning the keep america connected and the complementary so theyll say i want to pay my bill if you asked the carrier i want to keep my network up and running. And as a complementary the program and it addresses the need to have the network up and running and quite frankly that hurt small carriers and addresses the issue and the most connectivity in the household this is a severe crisis we are going through. I have a first cousin up there. We have challenges but we will get through it. Thank you mr. Chairman. I am struck by that following dynamic to have that same conversation with broadband and connectivity in telehealth and distance learning. But we are miss seeing the plot. And that right now teachers cannot even teach so we need to think of phasing this out. And with the mapping of usf or whatever thatay is and this is mediumterm and longterm. And then to move at the speed of the virus. And that he rose to the house of representatives. And then in order to connect people in whatever way possible and without broadband infrastructure between six and 18 months or five or ten years how to connect kids right now and connect people who are eligible for telehealth under medicare right now. I will start with that. So whats the one thing that needs to be in the next bill . You are spot on. Then to allow that to school they can seize and expand wifi availability if we cannot build out that infrastructure so lets take full advantage of that spectrum to share more broadly so communities can be connected. I completely agree. And then to get significant funding to support the families and communities with response to the programs and that Lifeline Program to be constituted as Emergency Funding program. And then the byzantine rules and requirements and add minimum should also tweak the rules for one broadband connection per household. And then to more assistance immediately with the flexibility and rules to deliver those key principles to be and to have those for both consumers and providers for signing up for these programs. Three points. Create the emergency lifelinein program. Ct and then to support the networks themselves and then look at the doe money to make sure some of that money goes to tools and applications and broadband for schoolpp children. First do no harm the first thing is to make sure the networks are up and running. The stay connected Voucher Program to make sure they continue to be connected and with the Lifeline Program because you dont need six or ne, ten or 12 months and with tt immediate relief. So talk about this in a methodical faction moving forward. Thank you for being here and to pursue that between flifeline tear bridging and clothing the Digital Divide that is pressing we need to meet it. And then im proud to have leading 26 of my colleagues and myself calling for money right away with the Lifeline Program. With the emergency broadband benefit should be at the core of a comprehensive plan. And marching around that is normal times the lifeline is underfunded during a pandemic when schools are shut down more essential than ever so afterr Hurricane Katrina and in one month 200 million to fund the conductivity efforts to open up the Lifeline Programs i am thankful to the sec chairman who has made useful changes but by comparison these are baby steps in the right direction. Let me ask every one of you, lets talk dollars to recommend more or less . And you are welcome to start. And to give me more options. So to spend quite a bit more because of the highspeed broadband for so many people. Without specifically saying the amount i do think with these Program Reforms at these temporary emergency programs and then to have this and through the telehealth emergency program. We could do the same with lifeline. To those changes to include dollars to flow and students and families to have access for devices at e home. With respect to lifeline we could with those mechanisms to ensureve and that would be expensive. But to those gig workers in newly unemployed workers and then to be potter on broader. That the actual number of that dollar figure and then to move quickly. I think the number will be significant and that initiative of the emergency plan people that are newly employed not eligible for the existing Lifeline Program. And then to look at the program in the long run to get the support out the door. But that will be a complement to the lifeline subsidy. You are on the right track we support those stay connected Voucher Programs. That is a complement to the program and then to empower the consumer it could cost depending that Household Plus nine plus billion dollars. And much needed access to Communications Services in the process isis already established sending checks to everyone and it goes down deeper and with more Technology Neutral that can be done immediately. And it would be very complementary. I appreciate you supporting this concept in real dollars because we have the job to make that happen and also to support the principles but the dollars make a the difference of thank you for your support. Thank you for participating the pandemic is highlighted the importance to have high speed access throughout the country. Its a difficult time not having Broadband Access but it opens up opportunities work from home, distance learnin e learning, telehealth, and then to participate in Commerce Committee hearings but according to the department of commerce 20 million american households with rural and tribal and urban communities this is critical for families and arizona into the future i was proud to support broadband provisions in the cares act that we need to doio more and thenbr to have a longterm plan to have the framework develop with thosefr resources efficiently and looking forward to those the committee to attract to these issues so over 20 million americans which is a necessity for students to have Online Learning i heard Amazing Stories but two dozen school buses are parked in parking lots across the community and with that access to the students to receive me and the bill that requires the fcc to make that provision of access and to get that atis home. And then how do we support kids with distancelearning . And during the School Closures . And with this critical triage and from there we need to get the infrastructure bills as quickly as possible and underserved committees then to get moving faster than what they have been doing to obt and senator klobuchar has suggested and senator kramer and extending the lifeline and those to take advantage. We need to have everyone on the network that could possibly be on the network to provide Health Care Services and expand telehealth. Those are a variety of issues. Broadband is essential. And to repair the economic fallout for those residents still remain without access. And then to be disproportionately with the coronavirus pandemic. And then to mitigate this crisis during my time in the senate and with the Broadband Services. And then to let the Navajo Nation news that unassigned spectrum. And then to provide home healthcare. So how should the fcc in congress support Indian Country during the crisis . You been a stalwart of support for everyone. And as i mentioned earlier those that service to cooperate with the Navajo Nation itself and it is extraordinary with the increase of access to spectrum and 54 sites and with that broadband capability and efficiently and to find other ways to enhance the concept. And to have that partition of the spectrum thats currently out there in the rural areas that may not be fully utilizedme those rules of the sec are complicated and that may wish to provide spectrum and then to do so without those exceptions. All those things we need to explore and i like the idea of having special attention given to native americans. And thats why we support that stay connected voucher and their what they can afford. And with Broadband Connectivity many of those in the Navajo Nation that their homes dont even have Running Water. When they say wash her hands that your heart has to feel for those individuals. Thank you for the question. So again thank you for your leadership. And with those that the Congress Tries to move forward to streamline and speed up deployment the state and local and tribal leader should be encouraged to do the same to speed up and permit deployment barriers and every possible effort. And then to get in the way and broadband and then the Navajo Nation and then those issues. And with the broadband to that community. I just want to use think the witnesses. And on that final point although is not really broadband but my state has over 30 communities but the patriotic americans in the country because alaska natives will they serve a higher levels than the us military than any other in the l country but those communities dont have Running Water. Tell them to wash their hands frequently when they dont have Running Water in their communities. I hope we can get through that. That should be tribal shareholders native americans to become antr issuee after the democratic colleagues will cease and desist. But its all the help that will be needed. Things to the witnesses this pandemic heightens the need even more but especially in rural areas extreme, tribal areas and from this very Interested Group of senators with the bipartisan support to getiv this done is positive thank you to all four of you for your testimony and good answers to theg questions the hearing record will remain open foras two weeks submit questions for the record upon receipt and with those to the committee as soon as they can no later than wednesday june 8 and then think the witnesses for appearing today. We are adjourned. [inaudible co] [inaudible conversations] the idea came to take a aka cartridge into the everglades. It would be an adventure. It was pointed out that there were not any road and its dangerous and theres alligators in the waters and people could die, but they knew better. The trip lasted a day and a half. There was a monsoon and snakes and alligators. They fled but they liked the idea and so they came about they would take a trip once a year they could but with a little bigger planning so disaster would be less looming. This time of year is typically spent celebrating students of all ages as they graduate onto their next