Congressman Taylor’s Broadband Bill Gains Traction in House Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) today applauded the passage of his Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This bill seeks to expand satellite broadband access for rural communities across Appalachia.

“Rural communities like mine in southern Ohio have long been left behind the modern economy, simply because they lack access to sufficient internet services,” said Congressman Taylor. “This bill will create an opportunity to demonstrate that embracing innovative technologies like satellite broadband could lead to massive economic growth across Appalachia, finally connecting Buckeye families and businesses to opportunities they’ve been waiting on for far too long.”

The Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act would direct a study to be conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the capabilities of satellites to be used by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for economic development. This study would additionally measure the capabilities of satellites for rural business services to assess whether they could meet businesses’ needs. It would also require an evaluation of economic development in areas already utilizing satellites for broadband services to determine the increase in resulting economic growth. Lastly, it would analyze the cost-effectiveness of implementing broadband services via satellites, to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

If favorable results are produced from this study, the Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act will allow rural businesses and communities seeking to obtain broadband funding through ARC access to new technologies.

Background:

Large swaths of Ohio’s Second Congressional District lack access to sufficient broadband, severely limiting these rural communities’ ability to connect to the larger economy and adapt to advancing technologies. Although fiber optic cables have historically been the most utilized technology throughout the region, expanding fiber into the challenging terrain of southern Ohio has been costly and difficult.

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. Satellites are a potential solution to this issue, circumventing topographical challenges to provide a sufficient 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. By Congress submitting a request for a study, ARC will have the most up-to-date data, helping to bring broadband to rural communities.

The full bill text for the Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act is available here.