WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), co-chairs of the Senate Broadband Caucus, have introduced bipartisan legislation to measure the economic impact of broadband on the U.S. economy.

While the federal government measures the economic impact of many industries, it does not produce current, reliable statistics on the economic impact of broadband on the U.S. economy. Accurate, reliable data on the economic impact of broadband is a valuable tool for policymakers and business leaders and many research institutions, state broadband offices, and trade associations have highlighted the need for this data. The Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act would require the Bureau of Economic Analysis to conduct a study of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the U.S. economy.

“The importance of broadband connectivity cannot be overstated,” Senator King said. “High-quality broadband has the power to bridge divides and provide people, families, and businesses with economic and educational opportunities, regardless of whether they live in rural Maine or New York City. By collecting data, this legislation will help give policy makers, businesses, and community leaders the tools they need to make smart investments and informed decisions about how to expand broadband access and spur economic growth.”

In conducting this analysis, the Secretary of Commerce will consider job creation, business headcount, online commerce, income, education and distance learning, telehealth, telework, agriculture, population growth, population density, broadband speed, and geography. The Secretary may consult representatives of business, including rural and urban internet service providers and telecommunications infrastructure providers; state, local, and Tribal government agencies; and consumer and community organizations.

Other original cosponsors of the bill include Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.), who are the other co-chairs of the Senate Broadband Caucus, and Senators Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), both members of the Senate Broadband Caucus.

This legislation is supported by Connected Nation, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, CTIA, and WIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association.

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