{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bergman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=957", "Bergman Continues Bipartisan Effort to Expand Highspeed Broadband", "2021-12-21", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Jack Bergman", "B001301", "bergman.house.gov", "bergman", "https://bergman.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Reps. Bergman, Neguse, and a group of bipartisan lawmakers unveiled new legislation to expand access to universal broadband.\n\nH.R. 6314, the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve funding mechanisms for the Universal Service Fund (USF), expanding access to broadband and other telecommunications services.\n\nThis legislation builds on Rep. Bergman\u2019s efforts to require Big Tech companies to finance rural broadband programs through H.R.4905, the Big Tech Accountability for Broadband Act.\n\nYou can read more here.\n\n\u201cThe way the federal government funds its largest broadband program is outdated. We need to modernize the USF so we can expand highspeed broadband to all who lack it, and not pay for it on the backs of seniors and working families,\u201d said Rep. Jack Bergman.\n\n\u201cTo fully participate in the modern era, small business owners, students, families, and workers in rural communities require consistent, reliable broadband connectivity,\u201d said Rep. Joe Neguse. \u201cOur bill, the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act, will ensure our federal agencies are utilizing all tools at their disposal to expand access to broadband and other telecommunications services, to connect our communities.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe FCC\u2019s Universal Service Fund (USF) finances roughly $9 billion worth of broadband support for rural areas, telehealth, schools and libraries, and low-income households each year.\n\nThe USF is replenished by FCC fees on telecommunications carriers, which are usually passed on to their customers through phone bills.\n\nThe bill, which is also cosponsored by Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Diana DeGette, Angie Craig, and Kat Cammack, is the companion to Senate legislation originally introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bergman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=957"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8223728984594345, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}