The Blandin Webinar on Tech Applications is beginning in a couple of minutes – but I just got this news off the wire and wanted to share:

The House Energy & Commerce Committee Tuesday approved a bill that would require federal agencies — both the National Telecommunications & Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission — to collect more, and more precise, data on the rollout of broadband service in the United States.

I think this is a great and kinda obvious step towards getting the US up to speed on broadband. First we’ve got to know where we are, who needs help, and who is in a position to help.

The Senate was also busy…

the Senate Commerce Committee passed the Community Broadband Act, which ensures that states and public-private partnerships cannot be prevented from offering advanced telecommunications services in competition with private industry, with the caveat that if that the state regulates those competitors, it cannot favor its own service.

Again I think this is a kinda obvious step towards getting people broadband. Don’t get me wrong – I think it can be hard to do the obvious sometimes when there are so many parties so invested in different outcomes.

Get the whole story from the Broadcasting & Cable Magazine.