There’s much predicted action on Capitol Hill today, as both House and Senate Committees that govern the telecom industry vote on bills readers would be interested in.
The Senate Commerce Committee plans to vote on four FCC nominees — three Commissioners and an Inspector General — for the agency. The votes would send confirmations for Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks and Anita Gomez to fill the empty Democratic Commissioner seat, to the full Senate. Lawmakers also plan to vote on Fara Damelin’s nomination as the FCC’s Inspector General to the upper chamber.
In the House, the Communications and Technology Subcommittee plans to vote on a measure to reauthorize NTIA and on several broadband-related bills. “The NTIA plays a key role in closing the digital divide and strengthening American leadership in next-generation communications technology,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH).
NTIA “is responsible for developing a national spectrum strategy, seeking input on AI, privacy, and cybersecurity issues, and more recently, running the largest broadband grant program in our nation’s history,” they state, referring to the BEAD program. They note that NTIA’s duties have changed since it was last reauthorized more than 30 years ago.
“It’s Congress’s responsibility to re-evaluate these duties and authorities and make sure the agency has the tools and congressional guidance needed to carry them out,” state the lawmakers. “We look forward to considering several bipartisan solutions to reauthorize NTIA and help ensure that the agency is adapting to meet the needs of a dynamic communications sector.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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