Description:
S. 198 would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its most recently available broadband health mapping tools. In addition, the bill would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of Internet connectivity in reducing maternal morbidity rates. Using information about the cost of broadband mapping, CBO estimates that it would cost the FCC less than $500,000 to update its broadband health maps to incorporate maternal health outcomes. However, because the FCC is authorized to collect fees each year sufficient to offset the appropriated costs of its regulatory activities, CBO estimates that the net cost to the FCC would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions consistent with that authority. CBO estimates that it would cost GAO less than $500,000 to complete the required report; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. If the FCC increases annual fee collections to offset the costs of implementing provisions in the bill, S. 198 would increase the cost of an existing private-sector mandate on entities required to pay those fees. CBO estimates that the incremental cost of the mandate would be small and would fall well below the annual threshold established in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act for private-sector mandates ($170 million in 2021, adjusted annually for inflation).
