What to Expect at 'Broadband in the Trump Administration' on Thursday
A policy forum with key stakeholders from Congress, the incoming administration, and independent agencies like the FCC.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you in Washington at "Broadband in the Trump Administration" on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. Details about the in person and livestream for the event are available here, and below.
The year 2024 has been a big one for broadband policy. What 2025 looks like is rather cloudy. And it's not just the fact that a new administration is coming to town, although that's an important new uncertainty.
Several of the core topics – the BEAD infrastructure program, the role of spectrum, and the future of the Universal Service Fund and/or the Affordable Connectivity Program – are squarely before Congress. That work remain incomplete.
Setting the table for broadband policy and implementation
When we envisioned "Broadband in the Next Administration" in the months before the election, we saw a policy forum with key stakeholders from Congress, the incoming administration (whichever it was), and independent agencies like the Federal Communications Commission.
Incoming President Donald Trump will certainly have much to say about the shape of broadband policy. He's already selected the next Federal Communication Commission chairman in Commissioner Brendan Carr.
The decisions that he makes in picking key personnel to staff the Commerce Department (particularly the National Telecommunications and Information Administration), the Agriculture Department (particularly the Rural Utilities Service), and other executive branch agencies focused on internet and communications – which have yet to be announced – will also be significant.
But distilling into a few sentences this conference's goal, it is: How will the new Trump administration interact with Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill in addressing radio frequency spectrum and solving the affordable broadband puzzle? These two issues are squarely in Congress' purview.
Secondly, will the Trump administration make sweeping, or modest, changes to signature Biden infrastructure initiatives like the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program?
Third, what of Big Tech? Will it be a punching bag – or will a pro-entrepreneurial zeal take root as some players push for "creative destruction" of the sort so admired by Silicon Valley venture capitalists?
Bringing the parties together
"Broadband in the Trump Administration" will feature two senators, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., two former heads of the NTIA (David Redl and Diane Rinaldo), the current head of the NTIA, Alan Davidson, and four former Federal Communications Commissioners (Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Robert M. McDowell, Mignon Clyburn and Michael O'Rielly).
And I'll be excited to sit down with Hilda Legg, the former head of USDA's Rural Utilities Service, in a Fireside Chat about "The Future of Rural Broadband Connectivity."
Unsurprisingly, many – but not all – of these executive branch or FCC officials worked for Republican administrations. But irrespective of party affiliation, broadband remains an issue that cannot be solved without bipartisan solutions, whether this means solving issues like American's Rural broadband deficit, addressing the need for more internet airwaves or enhancing low-cost broadband availability for all
Please join us by signing up to attend. If you're not able to attend in person, please join the webinar instead. In-person registrants will receive three months' access to the Broadband Breakfast Club; online attendees will receive one month's access.
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Broadband in the Trump Administration
A one-day conference in Washington on Thursday, December 12, 2024
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