Political Quotes

“I don't disagree with my colleague from Virginia that the maps showing broadband deployment in the United States can and must be improved. That is why, when Republicans held the majority for the Energy and Commerce Committee, we held numerous hearings on how to do that, how to improve broadband mapping at the FCC. We also shared legislation with our Democratic--then minority-- colleagues to bring in the expertise of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to aggregate granular data beyond the carrier data that the FCC uses for its maps. Unfortunately, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle didn't want to work with us to improve mapping last Congress. I am more hopeful this time that we can engage--we are ready, willing, and able to do so--and that we can address this matter. Mapping is clearly important--I think we all agree on that--and it is where we should focus our limited Federal money on broadband support. But rather than help spur broadband deployment and provide more granular data, the underlying legislation would make it more difficult on broadband providers to deploy broadband. We just discussed how investment in broadband, especially for our small providers, suffered under title II. They came and testified to that. But my reservation on this amendment, Mr. Chairman, has to do with the conflict that I see between the Wexton amendment, No. 5, and the Spanberger amendment, No. 11.…”