Hill Leaders Voice Optimism for COVID-19 Bill With Telehealth Funding

“At last I believe we’re on the 5-yard line" after "a lot of noise and a lot of rhetoric to get us here,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “Last night, I thought we were on the 5-yard line. Right now, we're on the 2," said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "Of the few outstanding issues, I don't see any that can't be overcome in the next few hours.” Earlier iterations of McConnell’s proposed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act language included FCC-focused telehealth funding and temporarily eases some federal rules in a bid to increase access to telehealth services (see 2003200070). It also includes $125 million in additional funding for Rural Utilities Service broadband and distance learning programs and $50 million for CPB.

The final bill is likely to mirror those earlier iterations of McConnell’s proposal, rather than expanding into other telecom matters, communications sector lobbyists told us. Democrats had proposed using the legislation to address broadband capacity and distance learning resources (see 2003180066). Senate Republicans were earlier reportedly willing to allow up to $500 million in E-rate funding via the measure. There had also been proposals to include further funding to implement the recently enacted Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998) and insert the text of the Utilizing Strategic Allied Telecommunications Act (S-3189), lobbyists said. HR-4998 provides funding to help U.S. communications providers remove from their networks Chinese equipment determined to threaten national security (see 2003120061). S-3189 would require the FCC to direct at least $750 million, or up to 5 percent in annual spectrum auction proceeds, to create an NTIA-managed open radio access network R&D fund to spur movement to open-architecture, software-based wireless technologies.

Pelosi said in media appearances she was optimistic a bill could be finalized Tuesday and passed through the House via unanimous consent, but only if it contained no “poison pills” that Democratic leaders find objectionable. House Democrats are willing to forego moving on Pelosi’s Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act counterproposal if a bipartisan deal happens, but will move toward a floor vote on their own measure if Senate language is found wanting, she said. Pelosi’s plan includes emergency E-rate funding and would restrict the ability of ISPs and voice providers to suspend service and institute data caps during the epidemic. It includes language from the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451). Other proposed funding in the plan includes $3 billion for the Technology Modernization Fund.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland told members of the House Democratic caucus there would be fourth and fifth waves of coronavirus-related stimulus legislation, a Democratic aide told us.

Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt, R-Mo., told reporters he expects the Senate to recess immediately after a final version of the third COVID-19 bill passes and not reconvene for three weeks. Senators will likely use those “three weeks to get ready for whatever is” in a phase four measure.

The National Republican Congressional Committee cited the Pelosi plan’s proposed $1 billion in emergency Lifeline funding as an example of House Democrats attempting to “cram” the COVID-19 bill “full of unrelated liberal goodies.” NRCC National Press Secretary Michael McAdams labeled the funding as “a return of the ‘Obamaphone,’” a term opponents of President Barack Obama’s administration gave to the Lifeline program during the 2012 presidential election (see 1311080043).

Free Press co-CEO Jessica Gonzalez pushed back against NRCC's criticisms, tweeting Republicans should be ashamed "for politicizing a program that will make it easier for people to work, educate, socialize, access healthcare, procure basic essentials like food, etc. during this global crisis." Lifeline "is the only federal program positioned to ensure that people who lose their jobs and can't afford to pay for internet and phone service can stay connected during this pandemic," she said.

FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly tweeted it’s “highly questionable how [T-band mandate repeal] is related to current COVID-19 crisis, but any fix to be considered must also completely and effectively stop state 9-1-1 fee diversion & convert 4.9 GHz to commercial use. Failure to do so should be nonstarter.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., led filing of the Keeping Critical Connections Act (S-3569) to set up a $2 billion Keeping Critical Connections Fund at the FCC to compensate ISPs with fewer than 250,000 customers for free or discounted broadband services during the pandemic to low-income households that can't afford to pay their bills. The fund would also compensate small ISPs if they provide distance learning capability to students during the emergency. Thirteen senators signed on as co-sponsors: Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; Steve Daines, R-Mont.; Doug Jones, D-Ala.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Pat Roberts, R-Kan.; Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska; Jon Tester, D-Mont.; and Todd Young, R-Ind. ACA Connects, the Broadband Association of North Dakota, Minnesota Telecommunications Alliance, NTCA, Wireless ISP Association and WTA praised the bill.

Congress should include funding for local media in the stimulus bill because of COVID-19’s impact on local advertising revenue, Public Knowledge said. Widespread misinformation about COVID-19 is making it “difficult for people to find trustworthy sources of news and reliable guidance on how to respond to a public health threat at the exact moment consumers need this information most,” said Senior Policy Fellow Lisa Macpherson.