Proposals put out to expand Rural Broadband, especially in this time of covid. Which ones are you supporting and which ones do you think would benefit your largely rural district . Guest thank you for having me on. Its important we talk about Rural Broadband. I have been engaged in this for years and one of the cofounders of the caucus and also have groups meeting all the time because this is not a republican or democrat or independent issue but this affects everyone in the rural area and its important to get this out as soon as we cant because during this, 19 you will see the effects and what can be done when they have the broadband of our rural areas. Everything from telehealth and i talked to so many doctors that they have telehealth but again if you dont have the access and a problem so that is one of the first things on the telehealth side and we have educational side here in the state of ohio where they share closing schools and say we have the kids doing it remotely from home and tell education so again if you are a student that comes from an area that my district that does not have any broadband there in trouble. We have seen all billions of dollars going into it now, not only on the education side but also with the fcc and the money we have put in on for the telehealth side and for Rural Broadband and you go across the entire line and its very, very important and on the rural side because my precision agricultural piece of legislation include in the aggie bill will help our farmers so its really important that we get it out here and weve got to get it out here now spewing charisma, to expand this across the country how much money are we talking about for Rural Broadband . Guest rural rock ban is very important for all of us in our rural areas across the country. Ive been involved in this for years and one of the cofounders on the rural caucus from getting broadband out but to get the dollars out you first have to have accurate maps. This is what i worked on in the last congress to make sure that we have accurate maps and a couple of years ago when the fcc brought their maps out if you know your district you know exactly where you have your dead spots and i knew right off the bat the north west central ohio but the maps i was looking at were not accurate. First of all, you want to make sure that before you spend any dollars were spent the dollars where you need them and especially in our underserved areas we have underserved areas but we got to get them into the under served areas at that 5 that is out there and so its important that we do that because as i mentioned that we have to have it for our telehealth and for our educational system and have to make sure for precision agriculture which is legislation in the farm bill. Host lets bring sam sabin of morning counsel into this conversation. Thank you. Id love to continue along these lines of discussing role broadband and how we find that expansion for talk a little bit about the bills we are seen in congress from a myriad of different lawmakers in recent weeks. It feels like every week there is at least a handful of new broadband bills and it so hard to keep up and im curious if you are concerned although this interest for so many lawmakers is wonderful and great but im wondering if you are concerned that this could create too much noise and it might be hard for lawmakers to find a path forward as we think about how to expand both access and affordability to broadband moving forward. Guest again when you look at broadband and getting it out its important to Work Together and this is across the aisle. We cant be a republican or democrat piece of legislation but want the we all worked on and we can come together on. One of the great things about the energy and Commerce Committee in the last several congresses, the number of bills that have come out of our committee in a bipartisan manner and i believe in the last congress [inaudible] was chairman and 93 of the bills came out of our committee were bipartisan and so we need to Work Together to make sure that we have a good piece of legislation because we have to talk to each other to make sure that it gets done because it is not cheap and how we will get it done but we were looking at the spectrum options out there and legislation is out there has seen how we might utilize funds from the auction to help get the broadband across. Of course. In that same regards when it comes to funding so chairman pai from the fcc has called on congress to further fund the keep americans connected pledge so that companies can continue to allow customers that have been impacted by the economic upheaval of the pandemic to be able to keep their Internet Service so what are the Odds Congress will take up chairman pais call . Guest first, i commend the german forgetting out there area the hundreds and hundreds of companies that made that pledge to make sure that people were not cut off and went you think about again the situation we are in out here, especially rural areas, having that access is your lifeline and again from you name it telehealth, education right down the line is important that it is there and so i think that it has been a very good program that he has put together and you know, is something that Going Forward its a resurgence across the country and some folks might not go back to work as soon as they would like. As we see the un up limit rates going in a downward trend but i think the chairman has led the way on this to make sure that people can stay connected. Of course. Go ahead. Host i just wanted to say congressman, if you could move your computer just a little closer we dont want to lose your audio with your words. I wanted to ask you about the mask because all of that mapping, i have never heard one person say the mapping is accurate so why has that been the case for so many years . Guest good question as to why about the maps because as these were drawn up through the years and looked at and i am not sure how the data was being inputted in and i think its important that again, when we look at those maps as members that and i have very good relations with the commissioners at the fcc and they said something is wrong here because these things arent rights and everybody starts saying it and its really good thing about what happened was that they admitted at the fcc that weve got to look at this. We do have a problem. So we put money out there to help get these maps correct and we have the legislation which i was a part of from the getgo and it is important we get it done but again, if the maps arent right when we are going out there to get the dollars in the areas where you need to have them, it wont happen. In some cases it might put money into areas that already have services underserved areas and that does not get those dollars into the fund served areas. Host go ahead, sam. Congressman you brought up the issue of virtual classes and ensuring that broadband is available for school and of course as the pandemic continues its really unclear of whether or not schools will be in person or virtual but say they are going virtual in the fall so what concerns you have about how students and teachers and other School Officials will access the internet . Guest when you talk about the kids going back to school it is important and i talked to so many parents that want to see their kids back in school this fall and in some cases, some schools in my area will start the second or third week of august so were looking at over a month before classes will start resuming. Some areas are talking about students having some days in class and other days virtually and again, this is where it is important because again on the federal side of the dollars that had been put out there to help the schools make sure they have the dollars be able to buy the computer or the ipads and making sure that they have the Internet Connection because again, we offered during the beginning of this that local libraries or places would have a wifi hotspot or for their students that they could come into and we dont want kids to have to go to a Fast Food Restaurant to be able to get in in some cases they are closed because of what is happening and they will go through the drivethrough. Its important that get the dollars out there but again we seen a lot of money go out for k12 and weve also had dollars that have been appropriate out there on the college side because thats also important to talk about where we have so many students in college that dont want to have their College Career interrupted and so universities have sent them home saying we will do this online. I talk to different professors and University President s and they said its worked in theyve gotten into a problem with labs and how they work that out but overall its important that as we look in the next month, month and a half that tens of millions going back to school that we would make sure that they are in class and can be and then to local districts and weekly decisions and how they will get kids separated into the classroom and also if they will use it on the virtual side. Of course, with that, of course, conversations are starting again about a possible tumulus bill that could be passed by end of this month or august or so and i am curious how much you would like to see dedicated to broadband in this upcoming stimulus bill and i feel like in the last few there have not been a lot dedicated to this issue. Guest when you look at the next necessity its tough to talk about because when you look at the ppp program extending, during the extension there, they have been appropriated but as the extended people get it out there but it is difficult so you know, there is a lot of talk to figure out do we go forward and if we do go from the reports out there might be much more scaleddown piece of legislation that when you look at the one point to trillion dollars. Host congressman latta, one of the bills of house to pass is the infrastructure bill. Do you agree broadband should be included as an infrastructure item . Guest when you look at what the bill the democrats put out and it was a democrat piece of legislation had no public input on it all and so as you go forward again we got to have become indication between the department and democrats working on that legislation and not being a oneway street and you know, again, on the planning side as we go forward there is the legislation is out there they would say about 10 of the spectrum auctions through 2022 would be another way to help get the dollars out there when were talking about getting broadband across the country. Congressman, maybe switching gears attach i would love to discuss the lifeline program. The recent data shows only about a quarter of those who qualify for the program which subsidizes internet and phone service for low income americans, only a quarter of those qualified for the program are currently enrolled in it and i am curious to hear why you think that is and what role congress can play if any in ensuring that more people know about the program and sign up and take advantage of it . Again, a lot of Different Things we are supposed to know the programs available and you know it is just like when the coronavirus hit and we did some rough tele town halls and got information out for people across our district saying what might be available and what there could be and how to access it but communications are a big part of it and going where to look and i know looking at all the abcs of the federal government, i know when i was looking at things i would say it would be great if we go to the one spot and you can find it but what we would do is on ours we would take whatever the agency had and put it onto our homepage from my office so people could pull it up and see a special thing that could pop up in sight here is something out there that you might want to look at. Of course. What i am hearing is its ensuring people know about the program so how would we coordinate such a program to ensure that people are actually telling those qualified that hey, this program is x and you can sign up for it . Again, its become indication and for instance, last year that i had a seminar on [inaudible]s white folks out from the ftc and the irs that helped conducted and there is so much of it getting the information out there and in this case it was directed at seniors that we need to get this information out to all Senior Centers and so people were coming in to know about it so you have to look at the gathering or again we got a problem right now the folks might not be able to get into certain places but getting it out and getting the information out to people where they are at so they know it is there. With that, several advocates have called on congress to perhaps expand the amount that lifeline subsidizes during the Public Health emergency and that is something you would support raising the amount from 9. 25 a month to something . Guest again, you have to look at the dollars and where they are coming from and that is one of the things that i have not heard on our side we discussed right now but one part is to make sure people know that they could access. Host congressman latta, with all the heads of the Tech Companies coming to washington for a hearing in your view what is the reputation of Silicon Valley right now in washington . Guest well, you know, it depends on who you are talking with and the information is getting out. We want to make sure especially when you look at section 230 with what is happening there and the sword and shield and you want to make sure that we are getting Accurate Information and less than a couple years ago having the data breaches out there that we had tech for it but it is making sure that they are giving us Accurate Information and that we can work from and they are telling it as it is that we cant legislate and other folks cant regulate if we dont have the right information. If you are looking at the whole issue as to who is controlling the information out there and we want to make sure that it is a free flow under the First Amendment and under the section that they are given protection through the years and its the sword and shield good they can take certain content down but at the same time they would not be held liable but we dont want a situation where all of a sudden somebody out there or someone or some groups within the company are saying we find this offensive but its free speech. It could be the other parties that they dont hold to free speech so again this is where it is important that folks realize that in a democracy we have to make sure we have a flow of information so the information gets out there to people because again, you have to make informed decisions. Host a lot of people say section 230 originally sponsored by senator ron wyden and senator chris cox is the reason the internet so vibrant. Do think needs to be reformed at this time . Guest if you do anything with 230 in my opinion you have to [inaudible] but at the same time it is there for a reason. We want to make sure we do have that free flow of information out there because again it is interesting today where people are getting their information from and its not from the traditional sources that have been out there years ago. It used to be people would watch the news or the 11 00 oclock news at night and now its their local paper and today that information is coming across the internet from everywhere and so in a lot of cases people really need to make sure theyre looking at multiple sources. They need to make sure that sometimes you have to verify, its just like in my office when we find something that says this is great and we ought to be able to put this out i say do you have a second source for that if he cant find the second source its not something you want to go out and use. When you think about again how people will tell me that had constituents tell me this that when i ask them and they give something and i say i found that on and it is everything on the internet is not always true and ive had people tell me that will yes, it has to be true because you couldnt put anything on the internet that is not true. That is why we have to have people out there looking at things and different sources. I think its important that we do have that free flow of information and the internet does serve a great purpose but as i said, you cant have one side is saying we will control the speech out there and because we dont like your position on something and that is not the purpose. We are the purpose of 230 was to make sure bad content you can get rid of it and you will not be held liable. Host sam sabin. Congressman, with regards to section 230 we have seen several bipartisan groups of senators introducing on the mens two section 230 and hearing representative jan [inaudible] from the Energy House Committee is working on her own amendments of good bc republicans introducing their own amendment two to 30 or hopping on the ban went of a few bills weve seen. Guest again, a good piece of legislation will take bipartisanship. Cant be a oneway street. It will have to be anything we come up with on 230, in my opinion and again it will have to have everybody seated at the table to come up with it. Again, if we have a piece of legislation that comes out that is totally partisan you might be able to get through the house on a oneway vote that is dead on arrival at the senate. When you look at the number of days we have left on the calendar in this congress it is really important that things we need to get done or done in a bipartisan manner. Of course. Maybe in the line of thinking of scrutiny against Tech Companies this week the Trump Administration said it was mulling a possible ban of tiktok which is the app very popular with generation z and owned by a tiny based company. Im curious if you think a potential ban of this app is warranted or if it is potentially could be taken a step too far . Guest and what i have seen and read and heard its very important that number one were talking about cybersecurity. One thing we talk about all the time in the last congress that i chaired the digital and commerce subcommittee on her energy and Commerce Committee. About every other word we heard was cybersecurity. And we have to make sure that people are protected out there and they dont have the potential of being hacked and valuable information could be used from that hack. Especially when, with the department that theyve come out with, we have to look at it to make sure that it doesnt pose a threat because again, we dont want people exposed to a cyber threat and all of a sudden open through the back doors and some people think i dont have anything important but your opening gets you to someplace else to the next level which could cause real serious damage and harm so we want to make sure that cybersecurity is a top issue and i know space partners [inaudible] host to follow up on sams question, another Chinese Company huawei have both been declared National Security threats by the fcc and do you agree with that . Guest we put the dollars out there on the rip and replace ledge elation and also talk that we might have to have more dollars out there to help these Smaller Companies out there that we stop that equipment. I said through a lot of briefings and security briefings and you want to make sure the people are protected. Just like legislation i have on the tech side but really on the energy side to make sure that our electrical grid is protected. Everything we do out there today, as i mentioned, is that big cybersecurity word in front of every sentence because we have to make sure that we are protected in the Smaller Companies across america that install it and they are ripped in a place they will have to have help and again, its a real concern that we make sure that our networks are protected and you dont have it with another country until you have physical harm and so that is why it is important to make sure to protect yourself. Host sam sabin, time for one more question. Perfect. With that, congressman, of course we are coming up on a pretty big president ial election so say a joe biden wins and we have a new Democratic Administration coming in in january are you concerned at all that the progress that has been made in the race against china and Technology Deployment and all this could be injured at all if a Democratic Administration . Guest it is important, i think, first of all President Trump is reelected because i think and truly believe that as we have seen so many things have moved forward in the last four years that we want to make sure we win the race in 5g. We dont want the chinese to win and we dont want the russians to win but we wanted to be u. S. Technology and we have to make sure that just like the Autonomous Vehicle legislation in the last congress [inaudible] we want technology to move us forward on the autonomous site. You know, i never heard any companies out there say that they are against regulation but they say again selfregulation. Peter welch from around and i did a working group on the internet of things. We would look at a broad range from everything from manufacturing to syntax to agriculture to making sure on the healthcare side that we wanted to talk to people but we could do blindfolded in any of those meanings and thought we were in the same and always because everyone said the same thing. This is a soft touch relation that we can develop it and make it here in america and that is what we got to do, i am afraid that all of a sudden we will see heavy handedness of government come back down that will stifle innovation with orange brewers out there and that is a real thing that i am worried about if we see a Democratic Administration. Host bob latta is a topper publican on the subcommittee on medications and technology. Sam sabin covers technology for morning console. Thank you both for being on the communicators. Guest thank you very much. Thank you. Cspan has unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, the Supreme Court and publicpolicy events. You can watch all of cspans Public Affairs programming on television, online or listen on a free radio app. Be a part of the National Conversation through cspans daily washington journal programs or through our social media feeds. Cspan created by americas table Television Comedies as a Public Service and brought to you today by your television provider. Tuesday, how subcommittee holds a hearing to examine security for the upcoming president ial election in november. Live coverage begins at 10 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan3. Online cspan. Org or listen live on the free cspan radio app. Now, the Senate Subcommittee on security looks at china and u. S. Economic policy. Several topics are discussed including chinas trade practices in total actual property theft and market manipulation from thursday this is about 2. 5 hours. Okay, lets do it. Good morning this hearing will now come to order. I am pleased to welcome our distinguished panels of Witnesses Today as the economic and security subcommittee. We focus on a very important topic that i think there is a lot of bipartisan interest in th