S.713 - Broadband Buildout Accountability Act (119th Congress)
Summary
S.713, the Broadband Buildout Accountability Act, aims to increase transparency in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. It achieves this by making the actions and decisions of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This bill amends Section 60102(o)(2) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to ensure FOIA applies.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill is to provide the public with greater access to information regarding the BEAD Program. This increased transparency could lead to more informed public discourse and potentially greater accountability in how broadband infrastructure projects are carried out. It also allows the public to scrutinize the use of funds allocated to the program.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in the use of public funds for broadband deployment.
- Greater accountability for the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
- Enhanced public awareness and understanding of broadband projects.
- Potential for more efficient and effective use of resources due to public scrutiny.
- Empowers citizens to hold government officials accountable.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on the Assistant Secretary's office due to FOIA requests.
- Possibility of delaying broadband deployment projects due to the time required to process FOIA requests.
- Risk of exposing sensitive information that could compromise project security or competitive advantage.
- Potential for misuse of information obtained through FOIA to obstruct or delay projects.
- Could create additional work for government staff.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the spirit of the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and the press, by promoting transparency and access to government information. Making government actions more transparent allows the public to be better informed, which is essential for a functioning democracy. There is no obvious conflict with any specific clause of the Constitution.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).