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H.R. 3994: ACCESS BROADBAND Act

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H.R. 3994: ACCESS BROADBAND Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-10-06 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-10-06 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

ACCESS BROADBAND Act

Plain summary

Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act or the ACCESS BROADBAND Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. (Sec. 3) The office shall: connect with communities that need access to high-speed Internet and improved digital inclusion efforts, hold regional workshops to share best practices and effective strategies for promoting broadband access and adoption, develop targeted broadband training and presentations for various demographic communities through media, develop and distribute publications providing guidance to communities for expanding broadband access and adoption, and track construction and use of and access to any broadband infrastructure built using federal support. The office must report annually: (1) a description of the office's work, (2) the number of U.S. residents who received broadband as result of federal broadband programs and the Universal Service Fund program, and (3) an estimate of the economic impact of such broadband deployment efforts on the local economy. (Sec. 4) The office shall consult with any agency offering a federal broadband support program in order to streamline the application process for financial assistance or grants and create one application that may be submitted to apply for all federal broadband support programs. (Sec. 5) The office, any agency that offers a federal broadband support program, and the Federal Communications Commission through the Universal Service Fund shall coordinate to ensure that broadband support is being distributed in an efficient, technology-neutral, and financially sustainable manner. (Sec. 7) No additional funds are authorized to carry out this bill.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

ACCESS BROADBAND Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] · 17 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3994, ACCESS BROADBAND Act (2018-08-07)

Cosponsors on this site

Peter Welch (D-VT), Grace Meng (D-NY), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] reported raising $1.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr3994 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115