Bill > HR2474

This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO), led by the Comptroller General, to conduct a comprehensive study on the potential use of low-orbit satellites by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for broadband projects. The study must be completed and submitted to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment. Specifically, the GAO will review three key areas: the capacity of low-orbit satellite services for business use, the economic development impacts in regions that have already implemented such satellite technologies, and an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of using broadband satellites to drive economic development. Low-orbit satellites are a relatively new technology that provide internet connectivity from spacecraft positioned closer to the Earth's surface compared to traditional communication satellites, potentially offering faster and more reliable internet access to rural or underserved areas like those in the Appalachian region. The bill aims to provide Congress with a detailed assessment of how these satellite technologies could be leveraged to improve broadband access and support economic growth in Appalachia.

Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2474/all-info