U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, successfully advanced the Rural Broadband Protection Act (RBPA) during a committee markup last week.
This legislation, authored by Senator Capito, aims to ensure that Universal Service Fund’s high-cost programs are allocated to companies with a proven track record and sound judgment in deploying broadband in hard-to-serve areas.
The RBPA now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
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“I have long been dedicated to ensuring that West Virginians have the broadband connectivity they need and deserve,” said Senator Capito. “This legislation builds on my previous efforts and stems from extensive discussions with small rural service providers and local leaders in West Virginia. Advancing the RBPA for full Senate consideration is another positive step toward closing the digital divide in West Virginia and ensuring that Universal Service Fund dollars are used effectively to deploy broadband in rural areas.”
In addition to the RBPA, the committee passed six other pieces of legislation co-sponsored by Capito:
Rural Broadband Protection Act:
Senator Capito, along with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), introduced the Rural Broadband Protection Act in May 2023. This legislation requires a thorough vetting and verification process for internet service providers (ISP) seeking to participate in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) high-cost programs.
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VET AI Act:
Senator Capito, in collaboration with U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), introduced the Validation and Evaluation for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (VET AI) Act in July. This bipartisan bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to work with federal agencies and stakeholders to develop guidelines for third-party evaluators to provide robust assurance and verification of AI systems.
AI Research Innovation and Accountability Act:
In November 2023, Senator Capito co-introduced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research, Innovation, and Accountability Act of 2023, led by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). This bill establishes a framework to enhance innovation while ensuring transparency, accountability, and security in AI development.
Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act:
In April 2024, Senator Capito and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act to address barriers faced by Americans with disabilities at Amtrak rail stations. The bill requires Amtrak to submit annual reports to Congress on its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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TAKE IT DOWN Act:
Senator Capito joined U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in introducing the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act in June 2024. This bill criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) and mandates procedures for social media platforms to remove such content upon notification.
Hotel Fees Transparency Act:
In February, Senator Capito helped introduce the bipartisan Hotel Fees Transparency Act, led by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). This legislation requires clear upfront disclosure of the final price for hotel rooms or short-term rentals.
Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act:
Senator Capito introduced the Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act in March 2023 to enhance broadband supply chain transparency through the FCC. The bill mandates the FCC’s Communications Marketplace Report to describe the impact of supply chain disruptions on broadband infrastructure projects to Congress.
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