The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said Tuesday it plans to release an unclassified 2022 report it commissioned on U.S. telecom networks’ security vulnerabilities amid a renewed pressure campaign from Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The Senate on Monday night passed by unanimous consent Wyden’s Telecom Cybersecurity Transparency Act (S-2480) to force the CISA report’s release, but the measure still requires approval from the House, which is on recess until Sept. 2. Wyden has also placed a hold on CISA director nominee Sean Plankey, which would prevent a swift confirmation process if the Homeland Security Committee advances him Wednesday.
Senate Homeland Security Investigations Subcommittee ranking member Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., launched a probe Tuesday of the federal government’s review of Skydance's $8 billion purchase of Paramount Global amid other Democrats’ corruption claims about the deal (see 2507250029). Meanwhile, the Freedom of the Press Foundation wants the disciplinary body for the D.C. Bar to investigate whether FCC Chairman Brendan Carr violated the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct in his handling of the Skydance/Paramount deal (see 2507290060).
Public broadcasting advocates and critics told us any bid to restore CPB funding for FY 2026 and FY 2027 will be very difficult given political dynamics after Congress clawed back a $1.1 billion advance via the 2025 Rescissions Act. President Donald Trump signed the measure last week (see 2507250047). Republican chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies subcommittees told us they are considering allocating funds to individual public broadcasting stations, potentially with strings attached. Supporters doubt that Congress can act before existing funding lapses Oct. 1.
The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday night postponed a planned Thursday markup session on the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee’s FY 2026 funding bill, which would allocate $47 million to NTIA, including $1 million for facilities management and construction (see 2507140052). The panel still released its proposed report on its FY26 bill with language aimed at changing NTIA administration of the $42.5 billion BEAD program and other broadband initiatives.
The Senate confirmed Republican Arielle Roth as NTIA administrator Wednesday on a largely party-line 52-42 vote, as expected (see 2507160076). Senate Commerce Committee member John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat who joined Republicans in backing Roth, as he was when the panel advanced her in April (see 2504090037). The chamber invoked cloture on Roth last week 50-34 (see 2507170065). President Donald Trump nominated Roth, who was Senate Commerce Republicans’ telecom policy director, to the NTIA role in February (see 2502040056).
The House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee voted 9-6 along party lines Monday night to advance its FY 2026 budget bill, which proposes to maintain the FCC’s annual funding at $390.2 million (see 2507210064). The measure includes a set of riders that would bar the agency from using money to enforce certain policies that originated during the Biden administration and have been in Republicans’ crosshairs, including its 2024 digital discrimination order. House Appropriations previously included some of the riders in its FY 2025 funding bill, which didn’t get a floor vote (see 2406050067). House and Senate Republicans also bowed Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval last year that aimed to roll back the 2024 order (see 2403140070).
The Senate confirmed Republican Arielle Roth as NTIA administrator Wednesday on a largely party-line 52-42 vote, as expected. Senate Commerce Committee member John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat who joined Republicans in backing Roth, as he was when the panel advanced her in April. The chamber invoked cloture on Roth last week 50-34. President Donald Trump nominated Roth, who has been Senate Commerce Republicans’ telecom policy director, to the NTIA role in February.
The House Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee’s FY 2026 budget bill, which the subpanel planned to mark up Monday evening, would maintain the FCC’s annual funding level and bar the agency from using money to enforce certain policies that originated during the Biden administration and have been in Republicans’ crosshairs.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., several Senate Democrats and the Writers Guild of America are questioning whether CBS’ Thursday announcement that it’s canceling The Late Show, hosted by Stephen Colbert, stemmed from Trump administration pressure related to the federal review of Skydance’s $8 billion purchase of network owner Paramount Global. That company recently reached a $16 million settlement in President Donald Trump's lawsuit over CBS’ editing of a 60 Minutes interview last October with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Some attorneys see that settlement as aimed at easing the path to FCC approval of Skydance's deal, but Paramount has denied those claims (see 2507020053).
President Donald Trump on Friday hailed the House’s passage (see 2507170045) just after midnight of a Senate-amended version of the 2025 Rescissions Act (HR-4), which includes a clawback of $1.1 billion in advance CPB funding for FY 2026 and FY 2027. As expected, the House voted for HR-4 216-213, with only two Republicans -- Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mike Turner of Ohio -- joining Democrats against the measure. Several Democratic leaders and other advocates predicted dire consequences for many local public broadcasters.