A spokesperson for the Consumer Technology Association said Thursday that a quartet of legislators still plan in-person appearances at CES in Las Vegas.

A number of exhibitors have canceled in-person attendance due to the dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks.

Scheduled to appear on a panel are Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.).

Asked Thursday if that was still the case, the CTA spokesperson said yes, citing the association's earlier announcement of a record number of senators making the trip.

Also scheduled to speak at the show is House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), father of former acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and whose endorsement was a key to then-candidate Joe Biden's successful presidential run.

Asked if he still planned to make the trip, press secretary Derrick Hope would only say: "Check back after the holidays." ■

Senate Commerce Committee members Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) have re-introduced a bill that would standardize the definition of high-speed fixed broadband in government subsidy programs. 

The Broadband Parity Act, which the pair introduced in the last Congress, would tell the FCC to get together with other federal agencies to establish a baseline level broadband service ISPs must provide when tapping into federal broadband subsidy programs.

Also Read: Need for Video Speed

"The pandemic has shown us that far too many families lack adequate internet connectivity--limiting their ability to learn virtually, telework, and access services,” said Rosen. "By removing inconsistencies in service and improving broadband access, this bill takes an essential step toward equal access to health care, education, and economic opportunity."

Last year, the bill would have set the bar at the FCC's 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload speed, but the current FCC is likely to set a higher target.

Specifically, the bill would require the FCC and any other agency that provides broadband assistance money--HUD, USDA and Commerce among them, to establish a baseline definition for high-speed broadband service. 

The bill would not apply to the billions of dollars in emergency COVID-19-related broadband subsidy money for telehealth, remote learning and low-income residents already being handed out by the FCC. But the Biden Administration has proposed an additional $100 billion in broadband infrastructure investment in his American Jobs Plan, though it has also signaled that price and competition, as well as speed, should be in the definition of broadband availability. 

Senate Commerce Committee members Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) are introducing a bill that would standardize the definition of high-speed fixed broadband in government subsidy programs. 

The Broadband Parity Act would "bring all federal broadband programs to the current definition of what the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines as high-speed internet (currently 25 [Mbps downstream]/3 {Mbps upstream]). 

In its (most recent) 2019 Broadband Deployment report, the FCC said: "The number of Americans lacking access to a terrestrial fixed broadband connection meeting the FCC’s benchmark of at least 25 Mbps/3 Mbps has dropped from 26.1 million Americans at the end of 2016 to 21.3 million Americans at the end of 2017, a decrease of more than 18%." 

Related: FCC Releases Broadband Speed Report 

The money in any broadband subsidy program--there are over 20 such programs across various agencies, the FCC and Department of Agricultural most notably--would be contingent on providing that 25/3 service to "ensure that all communities and entities receiving federal broadband support have access to internet service that is actually at broadband speeds." 

They point out that while some areas are defined as "served" when they have 25/3, others can meet that threshold at only 10/1. "The discrepancy in bandwidth speeds means that the federal government is often investing in inadequate broadband services," Capito and Rosen said. 

"The bipartisan Capito-Rosen bill will remove inconsistencies in service and improve broadband access across the country, which is an essential step toward all Americans having equal access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity," they added. 

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who co-chair the Senate Broadband Caucus, have introduced the self-evidently named Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act, just the latest effort in a political season where broadband access is an election issue--Klobuchar is running for President.

Currently the FCC is collecting input on how to better gauge where broadband is or isn't by collecting more accurate and reliable data. The bill's goal is to gauge the consequences of deployment and the lack of it by collecting such data on the digital economy.

Related: Senate Democrats Introduce Digital Equity Act

It would require the Bureau of Economic Analysis, with input from the Department of Commerce, whose NTIA arm is also charged with getting a better handle on where broadband is or isn't, to conduct the study of "broadband deployment and adoption of digital-enabling infrastructure, e-commerce and platform-enabled peer-to-peer commerce, and the production and consumption of digital media."

The bill suggests doing so in consultation with ISPs, infrastructure providers, governments and civil society.

According to Klobuchar, the bill is backed by Connected Nation, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, WIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association, ITTA – The Voice of America’s Broadband Providers and CCIA.

“In the 21st century economy, broadband is a critical force for creating jobs, leveling the playing field, and increasing opportunity,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that we have more reliable, publicly available economic data in order to make informed decisions about expanding broadband, connecting our communities, and keeping us competitive in an increasingly digital world.”

Original co-sponsors include Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).

A bipartisan quintet of Senators is launching the Senate Broadband Caucus today (July 12).

Founding members include Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), according to Capito's office.

The caucus is being billed as "a platform to discuss emerging broadband issues in Congress, and will promote solutions that increase Internet access and close the digital divide in America."

Plenty of those broadband issues are either emerging or already percolating on the Hill, including the FCC broadband privacy proposal getting a vetting in the Senate Commerce Committee Tuesday.

“I thank Senators Capito, King, Klobuchar, Boozman and Heitkamp for investing time and resources to create the Senate Broadband Caucus,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steven Berry. “Access to mobile broadband is essential to increase connectivity in rural America and provide the same economic, educational, healthcare and social opportunities and benefits afforded to consumers in urban and suburban areas of the country.  The formation of the Senate Broadband Caucus demonstrates that Congress understands the importance of broadband as a vital resource and economic engine for jobs and growth for communities, businesses and individuals in every corner of the country.”

“NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association commends Sens. Capito, King, Klobuchar, Heitkamp and Boozman for organizing a caucus related to an important issue on which they have already shown tremendous leadership," said NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association president Shirley Bloomfield. "Robust, reliable and affordable broadband becomes more essential to the quality of life in rural America each day. NTCA and its members are thankful for these senators who represent large rural areas and understand the importance of available and sustainable broadband to residents and businesses. We look forward to working with them through the new Senate Broadband Caucus.”