Lawmakers Seek Broadband, Privacy Amendments in FY 2020 'Minibus'
The House Rules Committee will consider a raft of telecom, privacy and cybersecurity-related amendments to a “minibus” FY 2020 budget bill Tuesday. HR-3055 includes funding for NTIA, other Commerce Department agencies and the Agriculture Department. The minibus would allocate $42.4 million to NTIA, $751 million to the National Institute of Standards and Technology and $3.45 billion to the Patent and Trademark Office. House Rules’ hearing on the amendments is to begin at 5 p.m. in the Capitol Room H-313.
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Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., would increase NTIA’s funding by $6 million to implement President Donald Trump’s May executive order to bar some foreign companies' technology from U.S. networks (see 1905150066). Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Va., proposes increasing NTIA’s funding by $1 million for programs that provide policy and technical training on best practices for 5G deployment, spectrum management, privacy regulation and internet policymaking. Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Mich., wants to reduce the proposed salary and expense accounts of NTIA and other agencies by 10 percent. Other GOP lawmakers also proposed varying cuts in proposed funding for NTIA and other agencies.
Some broadband-related amendments are aimed at concerns about FCC broadband mapping practices, which have come up repeatedly in hearings (see 1906120076). One from Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-N.Y., would bar NTIA from using its funding to update broadband coverage maps using data collected only via Form 477. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M., proposes designating $1 million of NTIA’s funding be specifically used for broadband mapping. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., wants to bar funding from being used to prohibit USDA from sharing its broadband coverage data with the FCC and other agencies.
Other broadband amendments are to set parameters for which projects receive broadband funding. Reps. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., want to designate $90 million of the proposed $690 million in Rural Utilities Service rural telecom loans for buildouts in unserved areas. Many deal with RUS’ $600 million ReConnect rural broadband funding program (see 1812130064).
Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, wants to increase ReConnect’s funding by $50 million by decreasing USDA's buildings and facilities funding. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., seeks to raise ReConnect's appropriation by $25 million by withdrawing funds from USDA’s administration and chief information officer allocations. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., wants to bar funding from being used to implement ReConnect unless it’s prioritized for unserved areas.
Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, proposes language to ensure underserved communities are also eligible for the ReConnect funding. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, seeks to bar ReConnect funding from being used on projects that don’t consider affordability in the definition of “sufficient” broadband access. Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-N.Y., wants to block ReConnect funding for projects that don't include a minimum speed of 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload in their definition of "sufficient" access.
House Commerce Committee Vice Chair Yvette Clarke of New York and three other House Democrats separately filed amendments to address facial recognition tech issues. Clarke's amendment would bar the Department of Housing and Urban Development from installing or using facial recognition or iris/retina scanning technology in public or assisted housing. Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia filed language that would bar funding for federal and state law enforcement agencies to buy or implement facial recognition tech.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii seeks to prevent DOJ funds from being used to buy body cameras that are equipped with or subjected to any facial recognition or other biometric surveillance technology. Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington wants to bar funding for facial recognition until agencies meet conditions to uphold privacy and civil liberties.
Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus co-Chair Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., seeks a $7.35 million increase in funding for the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service.