Data BRIDGE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4950
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-12: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:07:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 4950: Data BRIDGE Act
Purpose
This legislation directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enhance its National Broadband Map by adding a data layer that identifies the locations of agricultural areas, with the goal of supporting better-informed broadband deployment decisions in those regions.
Key Provisions
- Map Update Requirement: Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the FCC must update the National Broadband Map (as described in section 802(c)(1)(A) of the Communications Act of 1934) to include agricultural area data as an additional layer and maintain this update going forward.
- Consultation Mandate: The FCC must consult with the Secretary of Agriculture (using existing Department of Agriculture data on agricultural locations), the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, state representatives, and other relevant stakeholders as determined by the FCC.
- Definitions: The term "Commission" refers to the FCC, and "State" includes the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill amends the existing requirement for the FCC's National Broadband Map under 47 U.S.C. 642(c)(1)(A) by mandating the addition of a new agricultural data layer, expanding the map's scope beyond current broadband availability data.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The FCC must allocate resources to integrate and maintain the new data layer, while the Department of Agriculture will provide input on agricultural location data; states and other entities may need to coordinate during consultations.
- On Citizens: Improved mapping could lead to more targeted broadband infrastructure in agricultural regions, potentially benefiting rural communities and farm operations by addressing connectivity gaps.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies, including the FCC and the Department of Agriculture.
- State governments and their representatives.
- Agricultural communities, farmers, and rural residents.
- Broadband providers and related industry stakeholders.
- Other entities involved in broadband deployment and data sharing.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill introduces no apparent constitutional conflicts, as it focuses on directing an existing federal agency to update a regulatory map.
- It emphasizes interagency and state collaboration without creating new regulatory authority or penalties.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-12: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-08-12: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Data Broadband Reporting and Integration for Deployment in Geographically Essential Areas Act — issued 2025-08-12 — PDF (2 pages)