Walden Urges Congress to Do More to Function Remotely, Wants COVID-19 Broadband Focus
House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., believes Congress should revisit its plans for functioning during COVID-19, hoping the crisis prompts lawmakers to further address broadband access. Congress “really isn’t fully prepared” to function well remotely, and conditions are…
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unlikely to be “fundamentally” safe to return to Capitol Hill until at least May, Walden told a Politico webinar Wednesday. He believes lawmakers should authorize some remote Hill work during emergencies. “It also really gives those of us who've been arguing for the need to get broadband across the country and higher data speeds a new lever or two,” Walden said. Telecom networks need attention and “solid investment” to increase access, especially in rural areas, he said. Democratic lawmakers want future COVID-19 legislation to fund broadband and other infrastructure projects (see 2004030055). Walden praised the FCC response to COVID-19, including threatening to block U.S. phone network traffic of gateway providers facilitating robocalls preying on pandemic fears. He commended ISPs that agreed to Chairman Ajit Pai’s call for them to keep everyone online now (see 2003130066), and many of the actions “are sustainable.” Also, see here.