Public Safety
House Commerce Staff Hoping for FirstNet Reauthorization This Year
The agency will sunset in February 2027 unless Congress reauthorizes it
permitting
With House Effort Stalled, NCTA Presses Senate on Broadband Permitting
Cable group asks Senate committee leaders to include broadband reforms in any permitting package.
Congress
Senate Commerce Advances Kids’ Online Safety Bills
From chatbots to connected toys, senators push new guardrails for kids online
Privacy
GOP Lawmakers, AGs Want FCC Data Breach Case Reheard
The fear the precedent would make it harder for Congress to eliminate agency rules it doesn’t like
Congress
Communications Subcommittee to Consider Bill Requiring National Broadband Strategy to Close the Digital Divide
Six bills before the panel would create new responsibilities for NTIA and the FCC.
Expert Opinion
Mariam Sorond: America Has No GPS Backups. Fixing That Should Be About Engineering, Not Politics
A telecom executive urges Congress not to block FCC review of a spectrum proposal meant to give America a backup to GPS.
Congress
Democratic Senators Oppose ‘Weak’ House Kids Online Safety Act
Blumenthal, Cantwall argue House Republicans diluted the bill under pressure from big tech.
Public Safety
Public Safety Groups Want Senate to ‘Give Serious Consideration’ to House FirstNet Reauthorization Bill
The Fraternal Order of Police is still opposed and sent its own draft language to Senate Commerce
Spectrum
Cruz not Sold on T-Mobile-Grain Deal
The FCC should only approve the deal with ‘specific, enforceable deployment requirements,’ he wrote in a letter to the agency
Congress
Senators Affirm Need For U.S. Dominance In Space Exploration
The Artemis II mission is just the start, senators say.
Expert Opinion
Joel Thayer and Matthew Wong: Space Policy Can’t Run on Dial-Up Speeds
A bipartisan push at the FCC and in Congress aims to modernize satellite licensing and clear the backlog threatening American leadership in space.
American Federation of Teachers
Senate Introduces Bills Targeting Kids’ AI Safety and Literacy
AI chatbots pose real risks for kids, senators agree.
Satellite
Senate Commerce Advances Bills Targeting Satellite Security
Measures include cybersecurity guidelines for commercial satellites and restrictions on foreign operators.
Satellite
Senate Commerce Targets Satellite Security in Next Executive Session
Satellite security and proposed social media warnings headline Commerce committee markup.
FTC
Senate Panel to Conduct FTC Oversight Hearing Next Week
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wants to review post-Biden FTC.
Broadband Mapping and Data
Researcher: About 12.7 Million Seniors Lack Broadband Subscription, 7.2 Million Lack Computer or Tablet
The White House is proposing Congress claw back canceled digital equity funding.
