Another day, another comprehensive broadband infrastructure bill.  

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) has introduced The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, the Senate version of a House bill that would invest $100 billion to build broadband in underserved areas as well as requiring an "affordable" broadband offering from anyone getting those build-out bucks. 

The House version was introduced last week by Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), whose daughter, Mignon Clyburn, is the former FCC chair who has made closing the digital divide a priority in her post-FCC work. 

"I am pleased Sen. Klobuchar is leading the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act in the Senate,” Rep. James Clyburn said in a statement. “This legislation was crafted in collaboration with the House Rural Broadband Task Force and members of the Energy and Commerce Committee. It invests over $100 billion to build nationwide high-speed broadband infrastructure, and makes the resulting internet service affordable for all. Sen. Klobuchar understands the needs of underserved communities and has been a consistent champion for the expansion of high-speed broadband access. I look forward to working together to pass this critical piece of legislation in both chambers." 

Co-sponsors of the Senate bill include Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen (both D-Nev.). 

“Broadband is now essential for work, education, healthcare, and so much of modern life," said FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel of the Hill efforts to goose deployment. "So kudos to Senator Klobuchar and her colleagues for their efforts to develop a plan to connect us all. Working together like this we can solve the digital divide, fix the homework gap, and give everyone a fair shot at internet age success,” said FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. 

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has added two more process reforms to his growing list of changes at the FCC.

The first is related to his decision to release the texts of two February meeting agenda items as a pilot project for doing so with all meeting items before they are voted on.

At the suggestion of Democratic commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Pai said Tuesday (Feb. 7), he will release a one-page "fact sheet" summary of items when the text is released for any March meeting items.

Also, at the suggestion of Commissioner Michael O'Rielly, any substantive changes to an item between the time it is circulated and the meeting at which it is voted will have to be proposed by commissioners rather than staffers.

"This reform will help promote accountability and allow Commissioners to better understand where edits are coming from," said Pai in a statement, adding that the change is effective immediately.

O'Rielly has long argued for more accountability for changes, including his longstanding objection to allowing items to be edited after they have been voted.

"I appreciate the Chairman’s quick attention to the 'own your edits' idea that many of us have pushed to be adopted, as it will provide better transparency as we negotiate our items," said O'Rielly. "I also support Commissioner Clyburn’s suggestion on making summaries available for items that have been made Public.  While both relatively small fixes, this bodes well for the new Commission’s ability to work together to get our processes into better shape."

“Today’s announcement that the FCC will be implementing process reforms championed by Commissioners O’Rielly and Clyburn is a welcome sign of a return to bipartisanship at the commission," said House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn. "While the commissioners won’t always agree, it is heartening to see that they can find common ground on the need for reforms to the broken FCC process. I once again applaud Chairman Pai for these thoughtful actions [she also praised earlier process reforms from the new chairman] and commend the entire commission for their decision to work together to bring transparency, accountability, and collegiality back to the FCC.”