Congress
House Panel Pushes GOP-Led Broadband Permitting Package
Twenty-nine-bill slate would impose shot clocks and narrow environmental reviews to speed broadband deployment.
Expert Opinion
Jill Crosby, Sabrina Burns: Broadband Rollback Undermines Innovation
Policymakers revisiting the USF must recognize that affordable, reliable Internet access is essential for participation in the startup ecosystem.
events
Full Slate of Hearings This Week on Broadband, Artificial Intelligence and Energy
Congress tackles broadband, AI and energy in a busy week of hearings. Broadband Breakfast's Resilient Critical Infrastructure Summit is on Thursday.
Expert Opinion
David Nelson: Act Now to Protect American Jobs, Keep Promise of Broadband Grants
Unintended tax law changes now threaten to strip away up to 30% of federal broadband grants, putting rural connectivity at risk.
Commerce
House Appropriations Passes FY26 Budget Impacting NTIA
$47 million allocation for National Telecommunications and Information Administration includes amendment blocking federal rate-setting in broadband deployment.
Supreme Court
Chief Justice Lets Trump Remove Members of Federal Trade Commission For Now
Chief Justice John Roberts let President Trump remove an FTC commissioner, hinting at fewer limits on presidential power.
Expert Opinion
Joel Thayer: Why the Pentagon Wants Ligado’s Scalp
The dispute over Ligado highlights a clash between the FCC’s spectrum policy decisions and Defense Department’s efforts to block them.
Congress
House Panel Keeps FCC Budget Flat in 2026
Full committee denies FCC’s $26M budget raise request.
Rural
Rural Co-op Executives Press Congress to Modernize Universal Service Fund
Witnesses pressure lawmakers to update funding model and prioritize affordability.
Congress
House Approves Undersea Cable Control Act
Bill orders federal strategy to keep undersea cable tech out of adversaries’ hands.
Commerce
Rural Co-ops Back NTIA’s Overhaul of Environmental Review Rules
NRECA praises alignment with new law and Supreme Court ruling.
Funding
Senate Approves FY2026 USDA Budget
Proposes $96 million for rural broadband grants and loans in FY26.
Funding
Lawmakers Open Comment Portal on Future of Universal Service Fund
Working group sought input on the effectiveness of USF programs, proposed reforms
Broadband Mapping and Data
Sens. Fischer, Cortez Mastro Introduce MAP for Broadband Funding Act
Bill pushes FCC to improve functionality and and transparency of broadband spending map
House Appropriations
Governors Call on Congress to Prioritize Broadband Deployment
Asks for 'flexibility’ in administering broadband programs.
Commerce Justice Science and Related Agencies subcommittee
House Committee Delays Markup of FY26 NTIA Bill
Releases draft report outlining new BEAD policy directives
