Congressman Taylor Introduces Bill Aimed at Expanding Broadband Access Across Appalachia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) today introduced the Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act, which aims to increase access to broadband for rural communities across Appalachia. 

“Southern Ohio has long been a broadband desert, with our rural communities being left behind in an ever-changing and advancing economy,” said Congressman Taylor. “This bill will create an opportunity to demonstrate that embracing innovative technologies like satellite broadband could lead to massive opportunities for growth in southern Ohio. The Appalachian Regional Commission currently provides vital funding and services to Ohioans, and the inclusion of expanded broadband technologies in their programs would be life changing. It is past time to connect our communities to the modern economy after being held back for decades.”

The Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act will direct the submission of a request to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the capabilities of low-orbit satellites operated under the purview of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). This study would additionally assess the capabilities of low-orbit satellites for business services to ensure these satellites can meet businesses’ needs. It would also require an evaluation of economic development in areas already utilizing low-orbit satellites to determine the increase in resulting economic growth.

If favorable results are produced from this study, the Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act will allow for the potential inclusion of low-orbit satellites in the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

The full bill text is available here.

Background:

Large sections of Ohio’s Second Congressional District lack access to broadband, severely limiting rural communities’ ability to connect to the larger economy and adapt to advancing technologies. Although fiber optic cables have been previously considered as a solution, they face difficulty in mountainous areas such as Southern Ohio. 

A 2024 study reported three counties in Congressman Taylor’s district as being in the top 150 most off-the-grid locations in the United States. Low-orbit satellites are a potential solution to this issue, circumventing topographical challenges to provide a similar level of broadband access.

The ARC is a partnership between the federal and state governments, working with communities in the Appalachian region to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Several stakeholders across Appalachia are confident that satellite broadband provides huge potential for growth in the Appalachian region. By Congress submitting a request for a study, ARC will have the most up-to-date data, helping to bring broadband to rural communities.