Two Bilirakis Bills Advance

Washington, DC: Earlier today, two bills authored by Congressman Gus Bilirakis were passed favorably out of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee. The Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act will use data mapping to identify areas of the country where poor maternal health rates overlap with a lack of broadband access in order to deploy telehealth services most effectively. The United States is one of the only countries in the developed world with a rising maternal mortality rate. Around 700 women die each year in pregnancy related deaths—though 3 in 5 of those deaths are preventable. The problem is especially prevalent in rural communities and amongst women of color who continue to experience disproportionately high rates of maternal and infant mortality. "We need to use every tool at our disposal to improve health outcomes for moms and babies. Including this information into our broadband mapping will help us achieve this goal and ensure these moms get the prenatal care they deserve," said Congressman Gus Bilirakis.

The second Bilirakis bill that passed today involves the issue of spectrum, the highly sought-after radio frequencies that make wireless communications possible, which has revolutionized the world's way of communicating. Congressman Gus Bilirakis has been working to bring federal laws up to speed with the technological advances of the 21st century for the past six years. Currently, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hold shared jurisdiction over the management of spectrum policies. However, these agencies have not created a system to coordinate usage of spectrum policies since their 2003 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Finding solutions to create a consistent and efficient use of spectrum that helps to foster innovation is key to promoting America's economic growth, universal service goals, and technological leadership. In recognition of this fact, Congressman Bilirakis introduced the Spectrum Coordination Act that would require the NTIA and FCC to revisit and update their 18 year-old policies. Since the Congressman originally filed this legislation last year, the agencies have begun to improve coordination, but this bill will formalize the process and ensure its completion.

" I believe that consumers benefit when government entities work together to modernize processes and improve efficiency. The agreement governing cooperation between NTIA and the FCC has remained unchanged for 18 years. In the world of technology, that is an eternity and spectrum usage, management, and sharing have grown and evolved," said Congressman Bilirakis. "I want to solidify what has been learned under the original MOU and build upon it to benefit all federal agencies, licensees, and consumers. As technology continues to evolve, and our mobile communications become more important in our day-to-day lives, we need to plan for the future. We have the opportunity to improve effectiveness of government systems and encourage innovation as we continue to work with stakeholders and experts in the field."