People
Tower, Fiber Trade Groups Back Thumann Severs for FCC
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus said the Senate shouldn’t move forward without a Democratic pairing
Congress
Farm Bill Fails to Advance from Senate Agriculture Committee
Impasse leaves rural broadband provisions, including ReConnect reauthorization, on hold.
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.
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.
Shelly Moore Capito
Roth Announces Her Senior Political Team at NTIA
The agency tapped Tricia J. Paoletta and Matthew Plaster as senior advisors
Satellite
Lutnick Confirms No Effort to Rescind BEAD Non-Deployment Funds
Lawmakers pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on why BEAD has not yet connected any households, ties to Jeffrey Epstein
John Thune
Bipartisan Senate Aides Expect to Unveil USF Modernization Framework by 2026
Reform effort seeks fair contributions to the Universal Service Fund from modern internet providers.
Funding
Shutdown Enters Third Week as More Than 4,000 Federal Workers Face Layoffs, Telehealth Services Disrupted
Healthcare groups warn that the lapse in federal funding is disrupting telehealth access for underserved patients
FCC
FCC Prepares for Mass Furloughs Amid Looming Government Shutdown
Agency’s previous contingency projected retaining just 12 percent of staff
Public Safety
Sen. Capito: Parades May Be Too Dangerous to Attend
Lawmaker concerned about her personal safety after Kirk murder.
NTIA
Senate Confirms Roth to Lead NTIA
Former Cruz staffer will head up deployment of the BEAD program
Funding
Senate Votes to Cut Funding for NPR, PBS
Sends amended rescissions package back to the House
NTIA
Thune Tees Up Senate Vote for Arielle Roth
Thune filed a motion to invoke cloture on her nomination Tuesday.
Donald Trump
Senate Passes Trump's Big Tax Breaks and Spending Cuts Bill
Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie, with 3 Republican senators joining all Democrats in voting against the measure.
