Broadband Priorities of New House Communications Subcommittee Democrats

 You’re reading the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s Weekly Digest, a recap of the biggest (or most overlooked) broadband stories of the week. The digest is delivered via e-mail each Friday.

Round-Up for the Week of February 24-28, 2025

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at the key Members of Congress who will driving policy for electronic communications—including voice, video, audio and data; emergency and public safety communications; cybersecurity, privacy, and data security; the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Previously we looked at the Republican leadership of the House Commerce Committee, and the priorities of the Republican members of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Here, we look at the broadband priorities of the Democratic subcommittee members.

Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act

Every Democrat currently serving in the House Communications Subcommittee cosponsored the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 (H.R.6929). Introduced by Rep Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9), the act would have extended funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) through fiscal year 2024. The bill had bipartisan support, gaining a total of 232 cosponsors in the House, but was never called to a vote, and the ACP sunsetted in June of 2024.

Subcommittee Ranking Member Doris Matsui

Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA-7) serves as ranking member of the Communications Subcommittee. She has a long history on broadband policy and has been a strong defender of the Lifeline program. In the 118th Congress, Rep Matsui introduced the Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2023 (H.R.1412), which would have established a foundation to raise funding for, develop programs and partnerships to, and otherwise support efforts to expand access to broadband internet and promote digital literacy, inclusion, and equity.

House Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone

Rep Frank Pallone serves as ranking member of the House Commerce Committee. In the 118th Congress, Rep Pallone introduced the Secure Space Act of 2023 (H.R.675), which would have prohibited the FCC from granting licenses or access to U.S. markets to entities that the FCC determined pose an unacceptable risk to national security or the security and safety of U.S. persons (e.g., Huawei Technologies Company and China Mobile International USA Inc.).

Rep Pallone also joined Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) in sponsoring the SAT Streamlining Act (H.R.1338), which would have directed the FCC to revise its regulations that govern licenses and grants of U.S. market access for geostationary and non-geostationary orbital satellites. The bill failed a vote in the House.

Rep Pallone also joined Rep McMorris Rodgers in sponsoring the Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R.3565), which would, among other actions, have extended the FCC’s authority to auction spectrum. 

Kathy Castor

Rep Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) is serving her tenth term in the House of Representatives. This is her first time as a member of the Communications Subcommittee. Rep. Castor’s Clean Distributed Energy Grid Integration Act was incorporated into the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law on November 15, 2021, by President Joe Biden.

Yvette Clarke

Rep Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9) is a longtime member of the Communications Subcommittee. In addition to the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, in the 118th Congress, Rep Clarke introduced H.R.3362, a bill that would have directed the NTIA to publish data on ownership and workforce demographics of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program subrecipients. 

Raul Ruiz

Rep Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25) has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2013 when he unseated incumbent Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) in a major upset. This is his second term as a member of the Communications Subcommittee.

In December of 2020, Rep Ruiz joined Rep Clarke and other members of Congress to call on the FCC to expand the E-Rate program to support remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep Ruiz said,

Scott Peters

Rep Scott Peters (D-CA-50) joined the House of Representatives in 2013. This is his first term as a member of the Communications Subcommittee. After he voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and its historic funding for universal broadband, Rep. Peters said,

Debbie Dingell

Rep Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2015, when she succeeded her husband Rep John Dingell, who was the longest-serving member of Congress in US History. In the 118th Congress, Rep Dingell was an original cosponsor of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences or EXPLORE Act (H.R.6492), which set forth policies for the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture related to recreation on public lands and included guidelines regarding broadband and cellular service. The EXPLORE Act became law in January of 2025.

Rep Dingell was also an original cosponsor of the Provide Rigorous Oversight To Optimize Connectivity and Offset Latency or the PROTOCOL Act (H.R.9450) which would have required federal agencies administering funding programs for broadband deployment to coordinate with one another, and with the states, to collect, publish, and utilize data on government-funded broadband deployments. 

Nanette Barragán

Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44) has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2017. This is her first term as a member of the Communications Subcommittee. In the 118th Congress, Rep Barragán was an original cosponsor of the EXPLORE Act.

Rep. Barragán also supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, saying,

Darren Soto

Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-9) joined the House of Representatives in 2017. This is his fourth term as a member of the Communications Subcommittee. In 2023, he introduced the Launch Communications Act (H.R.682). The act would have required the FCC to facilitate access to broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries. It passed the House and died in committee in the Senate. 

In addition to the Launch Communications Act, Rep Soto was an original cosponsor of:

• The Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act (H.R.3343), which would have required the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to submit a plan to Congress for tracking the acceptance, processing, and disposition of applications for communications use authorizations.
• The Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2023 (H.R.3216), which would have merged the pilot ReConnect Loan and Grant Program with existing loans and grants provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to facilitate broadband access to rural areas that lack sufficient access to broadband. 

Troy Carter

Rep Troy Carter (D-LA-2) has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2021. This is his first term as a member of the Communications Subcommittee. In the 118th Congress, Rep Carter cosponsored the Home Internet Accessibility Act (H.R.827), which would have required the Government Accountability Office to report on broadband internet capacity in housing that is supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Department of Agriculture.

Additionally, Rep Carter was an original cosponsor of the Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2023.

Rob Menendez

Rep Rob Menendez (D-NJ-8) joined the House of Representatives in 2023. He is the son of former Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ). This is his first term as a member of the Communications Subcommittee.

Greg Landsman

Rep Greg Landsman (D-OH-1) has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2023 when he unseated 13-term incumbent Steve Chabot (R-OH). This is his first term on the Communications Subcommittee. In the 118th Congress, Rep Landsman cosponsored H.R.3366, which would have repealed provisions terminating the First Responder Network Authority and the Government Accountability Office reporting requirement for such termination. 

Rep Landsman also cosponsored the Home Internet Accessibility Act (H.R.827).

Jennifer McClellan

Rep Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-4) joined the House of Representatives in 2023 after incumbent Donald McEachin’s death. Rep McClellan previously served as general counsel to Verizon. This is her first term on the Communications Subcommittee. In 2023, Rep McClellan joined the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to celebrate the announcement of $50 million to expand middle mile infrastructure in New Hampshire, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming. Regarding the funding, Rep McClellan said, 

Also see:

• The Broadband Priorities of House Communications Subcommittee Republicans
• The Republicans Driving Broadband Policy in the 119th Congress
• The Broadband Priorities of the New Senate Commerce Committee
• The Broadband Priorities of Senate Commerce Democrats
• New Leadership for House Commerce Committee in the 119th Congress

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ICYMI from Benton

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Upcoming Events

Mar 5––Congressional Hearing: "Fixing Biden’s Broadband Blunder" (House of Representatives)

Mar 27––March 2025 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

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