Spartz Leads Efforts to Improve High Speed Internet Access

Press Release

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. -- Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (IN-05) worked with a bipartisan delegation of Indiana lawmakers to send a request to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide a status update on producing broadband coverage maps.

The last time the FCC worked on the broadband maps, they became obsolete by the time they were completed, so the previous Congress passed the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act, providing $98 million to address this issue.

The revised mapping process should help with the assessment of high-speed internet access on a more real-time basis and determine eligibility for Federal programs funding broadband deployment across the states. Expanding high-speed internet access to Hoosiers in rural and unserved areas of the Fifth Congressional District is of one of Congresswoman Spartz's top priorities.

"High-speed internet is the electricity of the 21st century, which will expand access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities for all Hoosiers," said Rep. Spartz. "The FCC needs to expedite its map development process and provide some better tools to policymakers."

Rep. Spartz was joined by all members of the Indiana House delegation: Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN-01), Jackie Walorski (R-IN-02), Reps. Jim Banks (R-IN-03), James R. Baird (R-IN-04), Greg Pence (R-IN-06), André Carson (D-IN-07), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN-08) and Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN-09).

The letter can be viewed online.