MAP for Broadband Funding Act

Bill Number

S. 2585

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Status

Passed Senate

Latest Action

2026-06-23: Held at the desk.

Last Updated

2026-06-24T11:48:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of S. 2585: Modernization, Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act

Purpose

This legislation aims to update and enhance the Broadband Funding Map, a tool for tracking federal broadband projects, to ensure more efficient allocation of government funds for internet infrastructure and to avoid wasteful or overlapping spending.

Key Provisions

• Definitions: Clarifies terms such as "appropriate congressional committees" (Senate Commerce Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee), "Broadband Funding Map" (the federal deployment locations tool), "broadband infrastructure," "Commission" (Federal Communications Commission or FCC), and "NTIA" (National Telecommunications and Information Administration).
• Broadband Funding Map Modernization: Requires the FCC, working with NTIA, to gather data from federal agencies on a timely basis to support better use of funds and prevent fragmentation. The FCC must start a formal inquiry within 270 days (with possible commissioner vote to proceed) to assess the map's functionality, data quality, and transparency. This inquiry must evaluate data collection adequacy, usability for the public, update timeliness, potential expansion of reported data, use of third-party information, and integration with existing FCC tools. The inquiry must finish within 120 days.
• GAO Study and Report: Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a study within 180 days on federal agencies' roles in maintaining the map, including compliance with data rules, best practices, challenges, interagency coordination, FCC authority, overlap with other broadband data efforts, potential taxpayer savings, and benefits of adding outside data sources. The GAO must submit findings to Congress.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This act builds on section 60105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (which established the Broadband Funding Map) by adding new requirements for data collection, a structured FCC inquiry on improvements, and a GAO review. It does not repeal or alter core existing rules but introduces mandatory evaluations and oversight steps to strengthen implementation.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases coordination and reporting duties for the FCC, NTIA, and other departments (such as Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services), potentially improving data quality and collaboration but adding administrative workload.
• Citizens: May lead to better public access to broadband funding information, supporting more effective deployment in underserved areas and greater transparency on how federal money is spent.
• International Relations: No direct effects noted.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal agencies involved in broadband funding and mapping.
• Congressional committees overseeing communications and commerce.
• Broadband providers and local governments that submit or use map data.
• The general public, particularly in areas seeking improved internet access.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The act emphasizes accountability through required inquiries and studies without raising apparent constitutional concerns, as it focuses on interagency data sharing and reporting. It promotes political goals of fiscal efficiency and transparency in federal spending but could face implementation challenges if agencies encounter data submission difficulties.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

Cosponsors (1)

Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-23: Held at the desk.
• 2026-06-23: Received in the House.
• 2026-06-23: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• 2026-06-18: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S2922-2924; text: CR S2923)
• 2026-06-18: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
• 2026-05-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 407.
• 2026-05-11: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-121.
• 2026-05-11: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-121.
• 2026-02-12: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
• 2025-07-31: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• 2025-07-31: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Modernization, Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (10 pages)
• Modernization, Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act — issued 2025-07-31 — PDF (6 pages)
• Modernization, Accountability, and Planning for Broadband Funding Act — issued 2026-05-11 — PDF (14 pages)