H.R. 1714House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Speedy Updates Act of 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:01 AM UTC

The Speedy Updates Act of 2021 directs the Government Accountability Office to produce a report, within one year of the law’s enactment, evaluating how the Federal Communications Commission sets and revises broadband upload and download speed thresholds. The report must look at the FCC’s review process, its consideration of future speed needs, and how changing internet uses affect those thresholds. The findings are sent to several House and Senate committees, influencing oversight of broadband policy.

Key Provisions

GAO must submit a report to designated House and Senate committees within one year of the Act’s enactment.
The report must evaluate how the FCC establishes, reviews, and updates broadband speed thresholds.
It must assess whether the FCC considers future speed needs over five- and ten‑year periods when setting thresholds.
The report must examine how the FCC accounts for evolving internet uses such as remote work, video conferencing, distance learning, business hosting, and cloud storage.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Communications and Technology Subcommittee

March 10, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 9, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 9, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Communications and Technology Subcommittee

March 10, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 9, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1714

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2021

Ms. Spanberger (for herself and Mr. Johnson of South Dakota) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report evaluating the process used by the Federal Communications Commission for establishing, reviewing, and updating upload and download broadband internet access speed thresholds, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Speedy Updates Act of 2021.

GAO report

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of the Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a report that evaluates the process used by the Commission for establishing, reviewing, and updating the upload and download broadband internet access speed thresholds, including—

(1)

how the Commission reviews and updates broadband internet access speed thresholds;

(2)

whether the Commission considers future broadband internet access speed needs when establishing broadband internet access speed thresholds, including whether the Commission considers the need, or the anticipated need, for higher upload or download broadband internet access speeds in the five-year period and the ten-year period after the date on which a broadband speed threshold is to be established; and

(3)

how the Commission considers the impacts of changing uses of the internet in establishing, reviewing, or updating broadband internet access speed thresholds, including—

(A)

the proliferation of internet-based business;

(B)

working remotely and running a business from home;

(C)

video teleconferencing;

(D)

distance learning;

(E)

in-house web hosting; and

(F)

cloud data storage.