A Thursday House Communications Subcommittee hearing on communications infrastructure cybersecurity issues is expected to include the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program and the thus far unsuccessful push to allocate another $3.08 billion to fully pay back participants (see 2311070050). However, just one of four scheduled witnesses mentions the matter in written testimony. Other items the House Commerce Committee identifies in a memo ahead of the hearing include the FCC’s NPRM seeking to establish a schools and libraries cybersecurity pilot program, the commission’s voluntary Cyber Trust Mark cybersecurity labeling effort for smart devices (see 2308100032) and concerns about Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers’ potential threat to U.S. IoT devices. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.
Congressional backers of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-3413/S-1669) are eyeing alternate routes to have it pass this year amid continued obstacles that stymied the measure in both chambers in 2023. The legislation would require a Transportation Department mandate for inclusion of AM radio technology in future vehicles. Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, failed to get unanimous consent approval of S-1669 in December (see 2312060073) amid opposition from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. Senate Commerce advanced the measure in July (see 2307270063).