# 119-s-713: Broadband Buildout Accountability Act

119-s-713, Broadband Buildout Accountability Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-713
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-713
- Congress: 119
- Title: Broadband Buildout Accountability Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-25
- Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Makes the BEAD program's actions and decisions explicitly subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), increasing public transparency over broadband grant and buildout choices.** It would insert a direct reference to FOIA Section 552 into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act language that governs the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. - Communities and watchdogs: Would let journalists, researchers, and residents request NTIA records about where and how BEAD funds are awarded and spent. - State and local grantees and vendors: Would make applications, contracts, and communications more likely to be disclosed, which could expose proprietary or sensitive details. - NTIA program staff: Would need to handle FOIA requests for BEAD materials, adding administrative duties to manage disclosures and withholdings.

## Cosponsors (7)

- Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] (R-WY), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] (R-MS), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS), 2025-02-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More transparency for BEAD broadband: benefit, low. This bill would make the Freedom of Information Act apply to the BEAD broadband program. If enacted, you would be able to request BEAD records and decisions under FOIA. The change would take effect upon enactment.

## Related bills

- 119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-3752: SAVE America Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-4429: Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-713 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/713)

## Related
- [119-s-2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2296)
- [119-s-4784: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4784)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-3752: SAVE America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3752)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-4429: Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4429)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-713 (as of 2026-08-11).