The Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act mandates the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report to Congress regarding the Appalachian Regional Commission's potential to use low-orbit satellites in their broadband projects. The study will focus on assessing the capacity and cost-effectiveness of using satellite broadband services for business and economic development purposes in the Appalachian region.
H.R. 2474 was introduced in the 119th Congress by David Taylor (Republican) and is currently listed as “Passed House”. It is classified under the Science, Technology, Communications policy area, one of 128 bills in that area we track this Congress.
David Taylor is the sponsor of 7 bills in our database this Congress, so H.R. 2474 is part of a broader legislative agenda rather than a one-off proposal.
Senate lobbying disclosures list 15 organizations lobbying on this bill’s issue area.
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates H.R. 2474 2/10 (low risk), higher than 76% of analyzed bills; the average in Science, Technology, Communications is 2.2/10.
Media coverage that supports the bill highlights its potential to significantly improve broadband access in the Appalachian region, which is often underserved by traditional internet infrastructure. The use of low-orbit satellites is seen as an innovative and potentially cost-effective solution to boost economic development and support businesses in this area.
Critics in the media argue that the bill may not address the root causes of poor broadband access in Appalachia, such as the lack of investment in ground infrastructure. There are also concerns about the long-term sustainability and reliability of satellite internet services, as well as the potential high costs associated with implementing such technology.
Based on the available data, there appears to be a low risk of conflict of interest between Representative David Taylor's donors and the subject matter of H.R. 2474: Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act. The top donor industries for Representative Taylor are Retired, Securities & Investment, and Government, none of which directly overlap with the broadband access industry. However, it's worth noting that there has been lobbying activity in the policy area of this bill, with various organizations, including AMVETS/AMERICAN VETERANS, STRATEGIC EDUCATION, INC., and THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO, spending a total of $461,000. The most significant lobbying expenditure comes from the NATIONAL STONE SAND AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATION, which spent $110,000. Despite this, there is no direct evidence of a conflict of interest between these lobbying activities and Representative Taylor's donors.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL STONE SAND AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL STONE, SAND AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATION | $110,000 |
| APPALACHIAN NATURAL GAS OPERATORS COALITION | LARRY PUCCIO, LLC | $75,000 |
| MAYNE PHARMA (USA), INC. | AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD | $70,000 |
| STRATEGIC EDUCATION, INC. | THE DUBERSTEIN GROUP INC. | $60,000 |
| JETZERO | JETZERO | $50,000 |
| INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING BUREAU | AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD | $50,000 |
| THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO | DLA PIPER LLP (US) | $40,000 |
| ROCKET LAB USA INC. | DLA PIPER LLP (US) | $40,000 |
| AMVETS/AMERICAN VETERANS | AMVETS/AMERICAN VETERANS | $30,000 |
| ENDOCRINE SOCIETY | CAVAROCCHI RUSCIO DENNIS ASSOCIATES, L.L.C. | $30,000 |
| NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DE | SMITH GARSON | $20,000 |
| MICRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | OFF HILL STRATEGIES L.L.C. | $20,000 |
| EXALT YOUTH | PARK&K PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $6,000 |
| HEARST TELEVISION INC | BROOKS, PIERCE, MCLENDON, HUMPHREY & LEONARD, L.L.P. | undisclosed |
| BASE OPERATIONS | SIGNAL RIDGE STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding David Taylor, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
What does H.R. 2474 do?
The Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act mandates the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report to Congress regarding the Appalachian Regional Commission's potential to use low-orbit satellites in their broadband projects. The study will focus on assessing the capacity and cost-effectiveness of using satellite broadband services for business and economic development…
Has H.R. 2474 received a floor vote?
No roll-call vote on H.R. 2474 is recorded in our database yet. Its current status is “Passed House”.
Does H.R. 2474 have a conflict of interest?
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates H.R. 2474 2/10 (low risk), higher than 76% of analyzed bills; the average in Science, Technology, Communications is 2.2/10. This score reflects overlap between the sponsor’s campaign funding, lobbying activity, and the industries the bill affects. It is a transparency indicator, not an accusation.
What is the status of H.R. 2474?
H.R. 2474 is currently “Passed House” as of our last update on April 20, 2026.
Who sponsored H.R. 2474?
H.R. 2474 was sponsored by David Taylor (Republican).
