Public Safety
House Commerce Staff Hoping for FirstNet Reauthorization This Year
The agency will sunset in February 2027 unless Congress reauthorizes it
BEAD
Senate Commerce Clears Bill Requiring BEAD Project Dashboard
NTIA would have to publish states’ semiannual reports
NATE
Todd Schlekeway: Broadband's Biggest Obstacle Is the Permit Counter
A Minnesota block lost its fiber over a $90,000 permit bill. The FCC can fix that.
Digital Inclusion
Trump White House Still Wants Digital Equity Suit Tossed
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance urged judges not to dismiss its case over canceled grant funding.
Funding
Luján, Matsui Introduce Bill to Fund Digital Literacy
Legislation would create a nonprofit to fund digital literacy and broadband adoption nationwide.
Congress
Luján Introduces Bill Requiring Automatic Refunds for Service Outages
Most providers require customers to request credits for outages themselves.
Digital Inclusion
Groups Campaign To Restore Canceled Digital Equity Funding
Communities see setbacks in broadband access a year after funding loss.
BEAD
Senators Release Details of BEAD Permitting Bill
The proposal would require NTIA to publicly track broadband deployment progress
John Thune
Bill to Increase Oversight of BEAD Broadband Grants Filed
The legislation would place new responsibilities on the Commerce Department.
Brian Fitzpatrick
Senators Propose Update to Communications Accessibility Law
Bill would a 2010 law to expand accessibility requirements to emerging digital services.
USF
Participants to Fifth Circuit: USF is Still Valid
The fund’s opponents are pursuing another lawsuit against the program.
USF
FCC, DOJ Defend USF to Fifth Circuit
Lawmakers are working on modernizing the fund.
Spectrum
Sens. Luján, Fischer: No Higher Power for Shared Band
Some CBRS users fear interference if the FCC raises power limits.
Infrastructure
Sen. Ben Ray Luján Expressed Frustration, Dedication to Federal Permitting Reform
Despite partisan challenges, Luján said moving past them was necessary for the U.S. to become a world leader.
Public Safety
Senators Eye More Oversight with FirstNet Authority Reauthorization
House lawmakers also circulated draft legislation that would give NTIA more power over FirstNet authority.
CES2026
CES2026: From Innovation to Guardrails, Senators Confront Tech’s Next Phase
Democratic lawmakers cite broadband gaps, data security, and autonomous vehicle safety as concerns that are not being addressed
