Congress
Senate Amendment Would Curb Costly FCC Regulations
Effort believed to be a preliminary step toward passage of the REINS Act.
BEAD
Senate Bill Would Shield BEAD Grants from Federal Taxation
Would exclude broadband deployment grants from corporate taxable income
Big Tech
NAB CEO: Broadcasters Burdened by Outdated Regulations
FCC policies give Big Tech an unfair advantage.
Congress
Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary
Lutnick, confirmed 51-45, has emphasized commercial growth in broadband, spectrum, and artificial intelligence.
Congress
Sen. Lee Proposes Bill to Defund NPR and PBS
American tax dollars should not support partisan media, he says.
Digital Inclusion
Prison Phone Providers Renew Legal Fight Against FCC Rate Caps
The First Circuit will review arguments on whether the FCC’s rate caps should remain in place.
BEAD
Lawmakers Renew Bill to Address Permitting Delays on Federal Lands
The bill comes as state officials push for reforms to environmental and historic preservation permitting rules under BEAD.
Public Safety
Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Protect Teenagers from Online Image Abuse
Introduced by Klobuchar and Cruz, bill would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery.
IIJA
Senators Revive Bill to Prevent BEAD Supply Chain Bottlenecks
The NET Act would address supply chain delays ahead of the government dolling out $42.5 billion for broadband.
Rural
Senate Confirms Brooke Rollins to Lead USDA
Was approved in a 72-28 vote Thursday; approach to rural broadband issues was not prominently discussed in hearings.
Congress
Cruz to Hold Commerce Hearing on FCC Auction Authority
Panel Chairman to review spectrum auctions within international context
AI
Experts: Greater Energy Production Needed to Support AI
Subcommittee hearing discussed future energy needs for AI infrastructure.
JD Vance
Sen. Blackburn Wants to Free Up Federal Spectrum for Commercial Use
The senator said unused spectrum could generate up to $100 billion for the federal government
Congress
Paul Offers Bill to Curb Costly Agency Regulations
Bill requires congressional approval of ‘major’ federal agency rules
Funding
Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition Defends Universal Service
Beyond legal battles, SHLB will push for swift broadband expansion and sustainable digital opportunity efforts
Antitrust Division
Klobuchar Leads Effort to Ban Algorithmic Price Fixing
Bill attacks algorithms designed to raise prices and limit competition
