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).

Reps. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., and Norma Torres, D-Calif., said Monday night they relaunched the Congressional Next-Generation 911 Caucus in a renewed bid to push for federal funding for NG-911 tech upgrades. The National Emergency Number Association and other 911 advocates are considering how to move forward on NG-911 funding after congressional Republicans decided against allocating any future spectrum auction revenue for that purpose in the budget reconciliation package, which both chambers passed earlier this month (see 2507080065).

NTIA should set up procedures to help guide design of spectrum-sharing and interference studies as a way of reaching consensus with federal stakeholders, the Government Accountability Office told NTIA acting Administrator Adam Cassady. In a letter dated July 14 and posted Monday, the GAO brought a variety of its pending recommendations to Cassady's "personal attention." It also highlighted its call for NTIA to request that the State Department review and update guidance on working with other agencies "to prepare for international conferences where spectrum regulations are updated." These steps "would better position NTIA to reach agreement with other federal agencies regarding spectrum management issues." Another recommendation said NTIA, the FCC, and the Agriculture and Treasury departments should define and document their processes for addressing duplicative broadband funding.

House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Doris Matsui of California and 21 other Democratic lawmakers told Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday that they have “deep concerns” about NTIA’s updated policy notice for the $42.5 billion BEAD program, which reversed much of what the Biden administration developed in the initiative’s initial rules (see 2506060052). NTIA said Monday it had approved updated BEAD plans for all 56 states and territories, setting up a Sept. 4 deadline for governments to submit a final proposal with the results of at least one round of a mandated “Benefit of the Bargain” subgrantee section process (see 2507210061).

Republican FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty voiced support Monday for Congress’ narrow passage last week 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 (see 2507170045). Commissioner Anna Gomez opposes the rescissions, as do congressional Democrats (see 2507180048).

The Senate voted 50-34 Thursday to invoke cloture on NTIA administrator nominee Arielle Roth, setting the stage for her likely confirmation next week. The vote divided largely along party lines, with Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania the only Democrat to back Roth, as expected (see 2507160076). All Senate Commerce Democrats except Fetterman voted against advancing Roth in April amid frustrations about the Trump administration's plan for administering NTIA’s $42.5 billion BEAD program (see 2504090037). President Donald Trump nominated Roth in February (see 2502040056).

The House approved the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act (HR-1709) Monday night by a lopsided 360-10 margin. HR-1709 would require NTIA to report on the cybersecurity of wireless networks and vulnerabilities to cyberattacks and adversaries' surveillance. The chamber approved six other telecom bills earlier in the day (see 2507140053), including the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (HR-1618).

The House passed the Promoting U.S. Wireless Leadership Act (HR-1765) Monday on a voice vote (see 2507140053). The chamber approved the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act (HR-1709) later that night 360-10 (see 2507150073).

The House Commerce Committee on Tuesday approved a reshuffle of GOP leaders that left Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina still chairman of the Communications Subcommittee and Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida retaining the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee gavel (see 2507030054).

National Religious Broadcasters CEO Troy Miller will lobby on Capitol Hill this week for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-979/S-315), the group said Monday. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to mandate that future automobiles include AM radio technology, mostly affecting electric vehicles. House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., expects the Commerce Committee to vote to advance HR-979 before Congress’ August recess (see 2507020062). The Senate Commerce Committee advanced a revised version of S-315 in February with the addition of a 10-year sunset for the measure, which led Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., to drop his previous opposition (see 2502100072).