Budget Reports: Update on Stimulus Action in Congress

Created by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on February 9, 2009

Washington, DC- Late Friday, a few moderate Republicans joined Democrats in saying they would help pass a stimulus bill soon. It is now expected that the Senate will finish amendment work and vote on a bill around noon Tuesday (2/10). Both the House and Senate are still planning to complete and pass a conference bill in time for President Obama to sign it by President's Day, which is Feb. 16.

Broadband provisions are currently far from certain. While the House-passed bill featured $6 billion for broadband, the Senate currently has allotted almost $7 billion for the NTIA broadband grant program. (The Senate bill earlier called for $9 billion, but this sum was cut by $2 billion as senators worked on the legislation.) It is believed that Congress may also consider limiting tax breaks to spending in rural and underserved areas to prevent providers from receiving a tax break windfall.

Just as the overall stimulus package is certain to be a contentious battle between the House and Senate (with the latter striving to keep its moderates onboard), the broadband issue itself is expected to generate some division. According to CongressDaily, there will be a "battle over the Senate's broadband-specific tax incentives that are absent from the House version." The Senate tax credits, which would go toward telecommunications companies that build high-speed networks, would place more emphasis on spending that affects unserved and underserved areas. Meanwhile, some telecom companies are beginning to express their concerns to Congress about network neutrality regulations, which would be attached to broadband money in the House bill.

Stay tuned...

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		Budget Reports: Update on Stimulus Action in Congress Created by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on February 9, 2009 Washington, DC- Late Friday, a few moderate Republicans joined Democrats in saying they would help pass a stimulus bill soon. It is now expected that the Senate will finish amendment work and vote on a bill around noon Tuesday (2/10). Both the House and Senate are still planning to complete and pass a conference bill in time for President Obama to sign it by President's Day, which is Feb. 16. Broadband provisions are currently far from certain. While the House-passed bill featured $6 billion for broadband, the Senate currently has allotted almost $7 billion for the NTIA broadband grant program. (The Senate bill earlier called for $9 billion, but this sum was cut by $2 billion as senators worked on the legislation.) It is believed that Congress may also consider limiting tax breaks to spending in rural and underserved areas to prevent providers from receiving a tax break windfall. Just as the overall stimulus package is certain to be a contentious battle between the House and Senate (with the latter striving to keep its moderates onboard), the broadband issue itself is expected to generate some division. According to CongressDaily, there will be a "battle over the Senate's broadband-specific tax incentives that are absent from the House version." The Senate tax credits, which would go toward telecommunications companies that build high-speed networks, would place more emphasis on spending that affects unserved and underserved areas. Meanwhile, some telecom companies are beginning to express their concerns to Congress about network neutrality regulations, which would be attached to broadband money in the House bill. Stay tuned... Washington Update \| broadband \| Economic Stimulus \| funding Anna's blog Login or register to post comments 174 reads
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