FOIA Advisor

FOIA News: Senators Introduce Bill to Remove FOIA Exemption in Broadband Grants

FOIA News (2015-2023)Kevin SchmidtComment

Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Broadband Buildout Accountability Act to Increase Transparency in Public Investment in Broadband Deployment

Feb. 24, 2022

Today, Senator Rick Scott introduced the Broadband Buildout Accountability Act with Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Senator Roger Wicker, to increase transparency for a $42 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package (BIF) broadband buildout grant awarded to the National Technology Information Administration (NTIA), which is currently exempted from transparency requirements under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Senator Scott’s Broadband Buildout Accountability Act would remove the FOIA exemption and require proof of how the $42 billion is spent to ensure taxpayer dollars are not misused. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, Shelley Moore Capito, Ted Cruz, Deb Fischer, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, Cynthia Lummis, Jerry Moran, Dan Sullivan, John Thune, Roger Wicker, and Todd Young have also cosponsored the bill.

Read more here.