The House passed the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (HR-2480) and NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482) Monday on voice votes. HR-2480 and its Senate Commerce Committee-approved companion (S-97) would direct the Commerce Department’s SelectUSA program to work with state-level economic development organizations on strategies to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains (see 2503120069). HR-2482 would renew NTIA's mandate through the end of FY 2026 and elevate the NTIA administrator's role to also be a Commerce Department undersecretary. Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., a deputy NTIA administrator during the Biden administration, was among the lawmakers who backed HR-2482 on the floor Monday.
The House plans to vote as soon as Monday night on the NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482) and eight other telecom and tech bills that the Commerce Committee advanced earlier this month (see 2504080070), the office of Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said Friday. Also on the House’s agenda: the Senate-passed Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (S-146), Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act (HR-859), Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security Act (HR-866), Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (HR-906), Rural Broadband Protection Act (HR-2399), Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act (HR-2449), Secure Space Act (HR-2458) and Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (HR-2480). The House Commerce Committee advanced S-146’s identical House companion (HR-633) earlier this month. Previous versions of all nine measures on the House agenda were part of a scuttled December continuing resolution (see 2412180033).
Incompas CEO Chip Pickering said Tuesday’s White House memorandum on permitting “will accelerate the deployment of high-speed broadband networks, robust energy grids and advanced data centers” and help America win the global AI race, according to a release Friday. “By directing federal agencies to eliminate paper-based processes, implement automation and establish the Permitting Innovation Center, the administration is removing the roadblocks that have hindered our technological advancement,” Pickering said. The memorandum called for the Council on Environmental Quality and the National Energy Dominance Council to issue a plan for modernizing federal environmental review and permitting processes for infrastructure projects. “The administration's commitment to deliver results at 21st-century speeds demonstrates a clear understanding that America's AI leadership depends on our ability to build physical infrastructure efficiently,” Pickering said.
Global smartphone shipments increased 1.5% year over year in the first three months of 2025, despite potential headwinds looming, IDC said Monday. Shipments rose to 304.9 million units, said an IDC report, which came after a confusing weekend for smartphones and the Trump administration's China trade policy.
The House Commerce Committee easily advanced the NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482) and 10 other tech and telecom bills Tuesday, despite pushback from panel Democrats over SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's actions that led chamber leaders to jettison a December continuing resolution that included near-identical versions of most of the measures the committee was considering (see 2412170081).
LAS VEGAS – An ATSC 3.0 datacasting joint venture that combines the spectrum of the four largest TV groups is viable now but would be capable of nearly 10 times the capacity if the FCC requires a nationwide transition, said executives from Sinclair, Nexstar, Gray and E.W. Scripps in a news conference Monday at NAB Show 2025. Their joint venture, Edgebeam Wireless, was announced in January (see 2501070079).
Globalstar promotes Vice President Tamer Kadous to add general manager and head of the terrestrial spectrum and network solutions business to his responsibilities; names Daaman Hejmadi, ex-7Rays Semiconductors, vice president, general manager and leader of wholesale satellite capacity business … Infrastructure construction firm MasTec taps Chris Mecray, formerly DuPont de Nemours, as vice president-investor relations, replacing Marc Lewis, who is retiring but remains an adviser during the transition … Comviva Technologies appoints Bhagwati Shetty, formerly Mahindra Group, as chief human resources officer … The Internet Society names Yogesh Khanna, formerly Sev1Tech, as executive vice president and managing director, succeeding Sally Wentworth, now president and CEO.
5G broadcast supporters say HC2’s petition to allow low-power TV stations to transmit in that standard and reach mobile devices could represent a lifeline for an LPTV industry in distress, while some critics say it appears to be aimed at allowing low-power TV owners to get out of the broadcast business.
The House Commerce Committee said Tuesday it plans to vote Wednesday on the newly refiled NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-2482) and 10 other tech and telecom bills. The markup session will begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. Also on the docket: the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act (HR-633), Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act (HR-859), Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security Act (HR-866), Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (HR-906), Communications Security Act (HR-1717), OpenRAN Outreach Act (HR-2037), Rural Broadband Protection Act (HR-2399), Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act (HR-2449), Secure Space Act (HR-2458) and Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act (HR-2480). House leaders included previous versions of all the bills except HR-1717 and HR-2037 in a scuttled December continuing resolution package (see 2412170081).
NTIA's outgoing BEAD director warned of the "significant risk" of program changes that would saddle rural America with subpar broadband access but benefit SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In a 1,100-word letter sent over the weekend to colleagues and friends after his last day on Friday as head of BEAD, Evan Feinman said changes coming down the pike from Commerce include a limit on per-location BEAD spending and some kind of pause, as well as an increase in low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and a reduction in fiber use. States already face BEAD uncertainty in light of Commerce this month dropping the fiber preference and saying it was undertaking a review of other program rules (see 2503060047).