Livestream of Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on LIFT America Act at 10 a.m. ET Wednesday, Plus Insight Into $40 Billion for Broadband

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce will conduct a hearing on H.R. 2741, or Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow's America Act. Introduced by committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., the measure includes $40 billion, over five years, to deploy broadband. The livestream for the hearing will be available on this page at 10 a.m. ET.

The Democrats' staff memo on the bill estimates that between 21.3 million and 162.8 million Americans lack access to the internet at broadband speeds.

Citing a white paper produced by the Federal Communications Commission in the waning days of the Obama administration, we gain insight into the Democrats' logic behind the $40 billion number. "The FCC estimated it would cost an additional $40 billion to extend high-speed broadband internet service to 98 percent of the country with another $40 billion being required to reach the remaining two percent," read the staff memo, citing the white paper authored by Paul de Sa, former chief of the agency's Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis.

In addition to funding for broadband, a separate subtitle of the package focused on smart cities would provide $850 million over five years to spur the development of clear energy solutions through technical assistance, grants, and training.

FULL COMMITTEE HEARING ON “LIFT AMERICA: MODERNIZING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FUTURE," from House Energy and Commerce Democrats:

The Full Committee will hold a hearing on the bill on Wednesday, May 22, at 10 am in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “LIFT America: Modernizing Our Infrastructure for the Future.”

H.R. 2741, the “Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s America Act" (The LIFT America Act), a bill to rebuild and modernize the Nation’s infrastructure to expand access to broadband and Next Generation 9–1–1, rehabilitate drinking water infrastructure, modernize the electric grid and energy supply infrastructure, redevelop brownfields, strengthen health care infrastructure, create jobs, and protect public health and the environment, and for other purposes.

Key Documents

Source: Full Committee Hearing on “LIFT America: Modernizing Our Infrastructure for the Future” | Democrats, Energy and Commerce Committee