Kyle Zebley, the American Telemedicine Association's senior vice president-public policy, sought Friday to ease concerns of Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and others that Medicare could stop covering most telehealth services on April 1. A December continuing resolution to extend appropriations to the FCC and other federal agencies through March 14 also temporarily prolonged some temporary rules changes, giving Medicare recipients eligibility for telehealth services until March 31 (see 2412230024). Zebley said Friday that “conversations on Capitol Hill confirm that President [Donald] Trump and his team are actively working with Congress to extend vital telehealth flexibilities beyond” March 31.

Senate Commerce Committee leaders said Thursday night they have designated Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., as Communications Subcommittee chair and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., as ranking member, as expected (see 2412180052). Lujan chaired the subpanel during the two previous Congresses. Lobbyists said Fischer's elevation to the Senate Communications gavel will further amplify the importance of her vehement opposition to reallocating DOD-controlled spectrum, particularly the 3.1-3.45 GHz band (see 2501070069). Also a senior Armed Services Committee member, Fischer emphasized that position during a Wednesday Senate Commerce hearing, which again put her at odds with panel Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas (see 2502190068).

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., raised concerns Thursday about alerts that Medicare “will stop covering most telehealth services” on April 1. A December continuing resolution to extend appropriations to the FCC and other federal agencies through March 14 also temporarily prolonged some temporary rules changes giving Medicare recipients eligibility for telehealth services until March 31 (see 2412230024). Congress enacted the expanded telehealth rules during the COVID-19 pandemic (see 2006150032). "What is the rationale for this other than making life more difficult for many seniors?” Khanna asked on X.

The Senate confirmed Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary Tuesday night on a 51-45 party-line vote. Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, hailed the vote, as did several communications sector groups, including CTIA, NTCA, USTelecom and the Wireless Infrastructure Association. Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., opposed Lutnick on the floor, citing concerns that he “would not commit” during his confirmation hearing “to standing by” Commerce Department commitments for disbursing Chips and Science Act funding (see 2501290047). Other Senate Commerce Democrats objected to Lutnick because he refused to say he would defy a potential directive from President Donald Trump to halt or alter distribution of $42.5 billion in BEAD funding and wouldn't commit that NTIA would maintain its approval of jurisdictions’ plans for that money. House Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., said Lutnick “is the right person to run the Commerce Department” as it “plays a central role in promoting American leadership in AI and other cutting-edge technologies, along with closing the digital divide and utilizing the full range of communications technologies.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., set a Tuesday night confirmation vote on commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick. The chamber will vote on Lutnick after it completes a 5:30 p.m. initial procedural poll on FBI director nominee Kash Patel. The Senate voted 52-45 along party lines Thursday to invoke cloture on Lutnick (see 2502130055).

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., told us last week that he voted against advancing the Kids Off Social Media Act (S-278) out of the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this month (see 2502050052) because he wanted to put a “place marker” down to ensure there’s a broader discussion about the FCC’s E-rate program. S-278 would expand the Children’s Internet Protection Act, an FCC-enforced statute aimed at protecting children’s data in schools and preventing access to harmful online content. “I just wanted to put down my place marker because I am very concerned about E-rate,” Markey said, adding that he has concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to the subsidy program and wants to discuss the “totality” of it.

The Senate voted 52-45 along party lines Thursday to invoke cloture on commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, setting up his final confirmation vote for next week. The Senate Commerce Committee advanced Lutnick last week amid opposition from panel Democrats over the nominee’s stance on implementing NTIA’s $42.5 billion BEAD program and other matters (see 2502050052). President Donald Trump formally sent the Senate on Wednesday night his nomination of Armed Services Committee Republican staffer Olivia Trusty to the FCC seat former Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel vacated Jan. 20 (see 2501160077).

The Senate Commerce Committee said Wednesday night it plans a Feb. 19 hearing on spectrum legislative issues. Lobbyists expect panel Republicans will focus on party leaders’ proposals to move spectrum legislation as part of an upcoming budget reconciliation package (see 2501070069). House Communications Subcommittee Democrats said during a January hearing that they strongly object to using reconciliation as a spectrum vehicle because it would allocate future license sales revenue to fund tax cuts instead of telecom priorities (see 2501230064). “As our adversaries wage a war to control global communication networks, America’s spectrum leadership has become both an economic and national security imperative,” said Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas. “This hearing will expose how the ongoing lapse in [the FCC's] auction authority and the lack of a clear commercial spectrum strategy have cost America jobs and weakened our global standing.” Cruz indicated that he's tiring of DOD backers’ objections to repurposing portions of military-controlled bands, which was a major factor in stalled legislative talks during the last Congress. “We can no longer allow Pentagon bureaucratic inertia to hold back innovation and economic growth,” he said: “Restoring American leadership in spectrum policy means unlocking billions for job creation, domestic investment, and the federal resources needed to pay for a secure border and stronger military.” The hearing will begin at 10:15 a.m. ET in 253 Russell.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., and Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., filed the No Propaganda Act (HR-1211/S-519) Tuesday night to block federal CPB funding over claims that NPR, one of the public broadcasting entities it supports, creates “chronically biased content.” The measure would rescind “unobligated balances” of CPB’s advance funding for fiscal years 2025, 2026 and 2027. Kennedy and Perry bowed the No Propaganda Act hours after Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., filed the Defund Government Sponsored Propaganda Act (HR-1216/S-518) to end federal funding for public broadcasting and claw back CPB’s advance funding for FY25, FY26 and FY27 (see 2502110072). House Appropriations Committee Republicans attempted to end CPB's advance funding in 2023 and 2024 (see 2407100060). The House Oversight Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee is eyeing a March hearing targeting claims of public broadcasting bias (see 2502030064). “It might have made sense many, many years ago for the federal government to subsidize public broadcasting,” but Congress should no longer “be picking winners and losers in the news media,” said Kennedy, a member of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee, on the Senate floor. He cited claims of NPR's pro-Democratic Party bias that began to draw congressional Republicans’ scrutiny last year (see 2405080064). “If you are a news outlet, and you want to publish this kind of stuff, that is your right as an American,” but “I'm not for taking $500 million every single year and giving it to these stations, to the exclusion of all others, to do it,” he said. Kennedy also noted that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr last month ordered the Enforcement and Media bureaus to investigate PBS and NPR member stations over possible underwriting violations (see 2501300065). NPR didn’t comment.

House Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., told reporters Tuesday that he won’t seek nomination for the seat of former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., if the incumbent decides not to run for reelection. Guthrie became House Commerce chairman in January. “I want this job, and I wouldn’t trade it” now for a Senate run, regardless of whether McConnell seeks another term, Guthrie said. “So 100% I’m not” running for that office.