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.
USF
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
NTIA
Senate Confirms Roth to Lead NTIA
Former Cruz staffer will head up deployment of the BEAD program
NTIA
22 House Democrats Slam Trump Administration Overhaul of BEAD
Letter accuses Commerce Secretary of defying Congress' intent, threatening rural connectivity
Free Speech
Markey, Schumer Slam FCC for ‘Double Standard’ on Media Investigations
Senators urge FCC to end CBS probe, citing misleading Fox News’ edits
Congress
‘Fair Use or Foul Play?’: Senate Subcommittee Hears Experts on AI Pirating Written Works
Debate centers on whether training AI with pirated books qualifies as fair use.
Congress
Congress Approves Trump's $9 Billion Cut to Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid
The vote marked the first time in decades that a president has successfully submitted such a rescissions request to Congress.
NTIA
Senate Invokes Cloture on Roth Nomination
Former Cruz staffer could be running the NTIA as early as next week
Congress
Senate Vote-a-Rama on $9.4 Billion Rescissions Package Begins
Bill would eliminate $1.1B in public broadcasting support for PBS and NPR
