Washington, D.C. – This week, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored the Rural Broadband Network Study Act, legislation to study the impact of big streamers like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ on rural broadband network costs and availability. Specifically, H.R. 1650 would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch a study into the current and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with services offered by edge providers.

“Rural broadband services are essential for remote education, telehealth, and telework,” said Rep. Owens. “The Rural Broadband Network Study Act would launch a study into the financial impact and projected strain of major streaming services on rural broadband networks, shedding light on the burden of costs placed on consumers, rural providers, and local governments. On behalf of Utahns in rural communities, I am proud to support this bill and will continue advocating for expanded connectivity in every corner of our state.”

The full legislative text is available here.

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