Amendment will help small Internet Service Providers focus their resources on increased deployment & better services
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after his bipartisan amendment to H.R. 4596, the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act, was unanimously passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This amendment, which Loebsack introduced with the chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, Greg Walden (R-OR), extends the FCC’s exemption from its enhanced transparency rules for small Internet service providers (ISPs) for 5 years.
When originally introduced, H.R. 4596 sought to exempt ISPs with 500,000 or fewer subscribers or 1,500 employees. While Democrats were initially opposed to this proposal, Loebsack worked closely with both Republicans and Democrats on the committee to craft this smaller, short-term exemption, which allows small ISPs to focus their resources on broadband deployment, while giving them the time they need to comply with the FCC’s new rules.
“Iowa has over 100 small Internet service providers and I am pleased this legislation will help them focus their resources on deploying more broadband, which rural America desperately needs, while giving them time to comply with the FCC’s new requirements. This bipartisan legislation is proof of how members working together across the aisle can cooperate and actually get things accomplished for the American people. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this important legislation passed in the House and eventually signed into law.”
VIDEO
Full discussion of H.R. 4596: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Congressman Loebsack discusses his legislation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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http://loebsack.house.gov/
