The House Commerce Committee said Saturday that it plans a vote Tuesday on the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (HR-1618) and six other telecom bills as part of a markup session.
Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Senate Homeland Security Committee member Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., are raising concerns about the FAA's proposed purchase of technology to communicate aviation weather information from SpaceX's Starlink, given CEO Elon Musk's influence within the Trump administration. The FAA is reportedly considering canceling a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon for that technology in favor of Starlink. Blumenthal pressed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Thursday night for “information and records” about the Starlink deal, which he said would potentially deliver “a windfall” to Musk.
House Oversight Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., told us Wednesday that she has firmed up a late March date for a hearing with PBS CEO Paula Kerger and NPR CEO Katherine Maher to examine claims that public broadcasters’ content has a pro-Democratic bias (see 2502030064). Greene earlier this month proposed March 24 as one potential date for the hearing. The panel will take place amid growing GOP interest in ending federal funding for the broadcasters.
Former Republican FCC Commissioners Harold Furchtgott-Roth and Mike O’Rielly were among 10 officials who jointly endorsed GOP FCC nominee Olivia Trusty on Wednesday. In January, then-President-elect Donald Trump said he planned to nominate Trusty, a Senate Armed Services Committee Republican staffer, to the FCC seat that former Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel vacated (see 2501160064).
The House Communications Subcommittee scheduled a March 5 hearing that lobbyists expect will examine how lawmakers can revamp the NTIA-administered, $42.5 billion BEAD program, which panel Republicans’ notice called former President Joe Biden’s “Broadband Blunder.” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz of Texas, House Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and other GOP leaders have been eyeing a revamp of BEAD (see 2501150056) after repeatedly criticizing NTIA’s rollout of the program under then-Administrator Alan Davidson. Cruz said in November that the 119th Congress would review BEAD and requirements that have drawn GOP criticism. He sought a “pause” in NTIA BEAD activity ahead of President Donald Trump’s return to the White House (see 2411220035). The House Communications hearing will begin at 2 p.m. in 2123 Rayburn.
Free Press co-CEOs Jessica Gonzalez and Craig Aaron urged the Senate Commerce Committee to "refuse to ratify" President Donald Trump's FTC and FCC picks ahead of a Tuesday hearing with FTC nominee Mark Meador, a former staffer for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and FCC nominee Olivia Trusty, who was an aide to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. Gonzalez and Aaron said in a Monday blog that the committee should not act "unless and until the Trump administration reverses course, guarantees the independence of expert agencies, disavows any plans to remove sitting commissioners, and respects the separation of powers." They also urged the Senate Commerce Committee to "haul in" FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson to "answer for their actions before giving them even more power to abuse." The Trump administration is "threatening to remove sitting commissioners without cause, slashing budgets with abandon, and sacking staff without authority or due process," the co-CEOs said. "It’s a brazen abuse of executive power designed to settle political scores and undermine the long history of bipartisan deliberation and debate that informs decision-making at these essential agencies."
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.”