The Broadband Priorities of Senate Commerce Democrats

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Round-Up for the Week of January 27-31, 2025

The Senate Commerce Committee is back at work, considering key presidential nominations, and marking up legislation. Previously, we looked at the broadband priorities of the Republican leadership and rank-and-file members of the committee, which includes 15 Republicans and 13 Democrats. Here we look at the priorities of the committee’s Democrats. 

Maria Cantwell

Sen Maria Cantwell (D-WA) is the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee and served as chair of the committee in the 117th and 118th Congresses. Many major investments in broadband were passed under her leadership, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which created the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. 

In 2022, Sens. Cantwell and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) proposed the Grant to Rapidly Invest and Deploy Broadband, or GRID Broadband Act to provide a robust new federal cost-share to spur investment in a nationwide middle-mile backbone along the nation’s existing electricity grid. The goal of this bipartisan initiative is to help provide affordable high-speed Internet options to the 120 million American households that lack connectivity and enhance the resiliency, diversity, and security of America’s electrical grid.

In 2024, Chairwoman Cantwell spearheaded the Spectrum and National Security Act, comprehensive legislation that will modernize the nation’s spectrum policy to protect our communications networks against foreign adversaries, restore Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction authority, secure critical broadband funding to keep Americans connected, and invest in CHIPS and Science innovation initiatives that will boost U.S. technological competitiveness. 

Amy Klobuchar

Sen Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has a long history of broadband policy advocacy. She has been a member of the Senate Commerce Committee since the 110th Congress in 2007, her first term in the Senate. In the 118th Congress, Sen Klobuchar sponsored and cosponsored several bills related to broadband connectivity, including:

• Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2023 (S.130) - This bill would have merged the U.S. Department of Agriculture's pilot ReConnect Loan and Grant Program with existing USDA loans and grants to facilitate broadband access to rural areas that lack sufficient access to broadband.
• Rural Broadband Protection Act (S. 98) - This bill would have required the Federal Communications Commission to establish a process to vet applicants for certain funding that supports affordable broadband deployment in high-cost areas, including rural communities.
• Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act of 2023 (S.975) would have required the FCC to make changes to the financing of the Universal Service Fund. This fund, which is financed by fees contributed by telecommunications carriers, supports programs to expand the availability of and access to telecommunications services. The bicameral, bipartisan legislation would have directed the FCC to initiate a rulemaking process to reform the contributions system, taking into account the fairness and the relative burden any changes in fees will have on consumers and businesses, as well as the impact the proposed changes to the contribution system will have on seniors. 

Brian Schatz

Sen Brian Schatz (D-HI) has been a member of the Senate Commerce Committee since joining Congress in 2014.

In 2021, Sen Schatz was an original cosponsor of the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act (S.198), which directed the FCC to include data on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in its broadband health mapping tool, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control. The legislation was signed into law in 2022. 

On January 28, 2025, Sen. Schatz joined Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Katie Britt (R-AL) on the Kids Off Social Media Act, legislation to keep kids off social media and help protect them from its harmful impacts. The bill would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17. The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Fetterman (D-PA), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), and John Curtis (R-UT).

Ed Markey 

In 2023, Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) joined Sens Cory Booker (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VE), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in cosponsoring the Community Broadband Act of 2023 (S.1197), which would have prohibited states from blocking the provision of broadband by public providers, public-private partnership providers, or cooperatively organized providers.

Sen Markey sponsored and cosponsored a number of other bills, including:

• Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2023 (S.2667) would have improved certain programs of the Small Business Administration to better assist small business customers in accessing broadband technology and for other purposes.
• Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2023 (S.3024), which would have established grant programs to facilitate enrollment in the Lifeline program and the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Gary Peters 

Gary Peters (D-MI), Michigan’s senior senator and a former congressman, said he won’t seek reelection in 2026 and will retire from the U.S. Senate when his second term ends in January 2027.

In the 118th Congress, Sen Gary Peters cosponsored the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act (S.4821), which would have required executive agencies to take steps to better meet the statutory deadline for processing communications use applications.

Tammy Baldwin 

Sen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) was an original cosponsor of the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (S.341), which would, for tax purposes, have excluded certain broadband grants from gross income. Sen Baldwin also cosponsored the Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2023.

Tammy Duckworth 

In the 118th Congress, Sen Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Democratic colleagues in cosponsoring the Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2023 (S.3024). This bill would have established grant programs to facilitate enrollment in the Lifeline Program and the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

Sen. Duckworth championed the bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, a law that aims to end egregious prison phone rates that gouge innocent family members and prevent these Americans from regularly communicating with incarcerated loved ones—despite studies indicating that preserving familial relationships helps reduce recidivism rates.

Jacky Rosen 

In March of 2023, Sen Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Sen John Thune (R-SD) to introduce the Accurate Map for Broadband Investment Act of 2023 (S.1162). The bill would have modified the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program by requiring a portion of program funds to be reallocated using an updated version of the National Broadband Map. Additionally, Sen Rosen cosponsored the Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act and championed the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act.

Ben Ray Lujan 

In May 2023, Sen Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and now Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) launched a bipartisan Senate working group to evaluate and propose potential reforms to the Universal Service Fund (USF). The goal of this working group was to create a bipartisan forum to guide education, awareness, and policymaking on this topic. Joining Senators Luján and Thune were Sens Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

Also in 2023, Sen Luján introduced the Digital Equity Foundation Act (S.599), which would have set out a process for establishing 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. The bill would have authorized the foundation to carry out a range of activities to advance its mission, such as awarding grants and establishing for-profit subsidiaries to stimulate economic development and attract investment partners.

Sen Luján also cosponsored a number of bills in the 118th Congress, including:

• FAIR Contributions Act (S.856), a bill to require the FCC to study and report on the feasibility of funding the Universal Service Fund through contributions from edge providers (i.e., providers of online content or services, such as search engines).
• Connect Our Parks Act (H.R.5919). The bill would have required the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment to identify locations in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for broadband internet access service and areas in National Parks in which there is the greatest need for cellular service. 
• PLAN for Broadband Act (S.2238) would have directed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop and implement a national strategy to improve the coordination and management of federally supported programs for expanding access to and adoption of broadband internet. [This week, Sen. Luján joined Sen. Roger Wicker on a new version of this legislation, S.323.] 
• Tribal Connect Act of 2023 (S.2810) - This bill would have expanded Tribal access to the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support (E-rate) Program, which provides discounted broadband internet access and telecommunications services to certain schools and libraries.  

John Hickenlooper 

In 2024, Sen John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the Network Equipment Transparency, or NET Act (S.690), which would have required the FCC to determine whether the lack of network equipment significantly impacted the deployment of broadband and other advanced telecommunications capability. The bill would also have required the FCC to include the determination in its biennial report on the state of the communications marketplace.

Sen Hickenlooper also supported:

• Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2023 (S.130)
• Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act of 2023 (S.975)
• Launch Communications Act (S.1648)

In the 119th Congress, Sen. Hickenlooper has already supported:

• S.290, a to direct the Secretary of the Interior to upgrade existing emergency communications centers in units of the National Park System to Next Generation 9-1-1 systems.
• S.245, legislation to require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to establish a working group on cyber insurance, to require dissemination of informative resources for issuers and customers of cyber insurance. [The Commerce Committee is scheduled to vote on this bill on February 5.]

John Fetterman 

In 2024, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) cosponsored the Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act (S.4317), which would have appropriated funds for the Federal Communications Commission’s “Rip and Replace” program and the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Andy Kim 

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) served in the House of Representatives from 2019-2024, and will be joining the Senate Commerce Committee for the 119th Congress. During his time in the House of Representatives, Sen Kim cosponsored the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 (H.R.6929), which would have extended funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program through 2024. 

Lisa Blunt Rochester

In 2020, Sen Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) (then a member of the House of Representatives) joined Rep Marc Veasey (D-TX) in sponsoring the Emergency Broadband Connections Act of 2020 (H.R.6881), which proposed an emergency broadband benefit for certain households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit was ultimately established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and was replaced by the Affordable Connectivity Program, which sunsetted in June 2024, after Congress failed to extend funding for the program.

Getting Busy

On February 5, the Senate Commerce Committee will convene to consider a mix of nominations and bills including:

• Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce.
• S. 98, Rural Broadband Protection Act (introduced by Sen. Capito) would require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding.
• S. 245, Insure Cybersecurity Act (introduced by Sen. Hickenlooper) would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to establish a working group on cyber insurance, to require dissemination of informative resources for issuers and customers of cyber insurance, and for other purposes. 
• S. 278, Kids Off Social Media Act (introduced by Sen. Schatz) would prohibit users who are under age 13 from accessing social media platforms and the use of personalized recommendation systems on individuals under age 17, as well as limiting the use of social media in schools.
• S. 315, AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (introduced by Sen. Markey) which would require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles.

Also see:

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

Quick Bits

• Together, Broadband Deployment and Digital Inclusion Programs Support Increased Internet Adoption
• Chairman Carr Ends Proceeding on “Bulk Billing” Arrangements
• Chairman Carr Ends Plan to Require Environmental Reviews for Infrastructure Builds
• Commerce Nominee Defends Trump Tariffs and Promises Strong Stance on China

Weekend Reads

• Here's How President Trump Shifted Policy in His First Week
• The great BEAD monitoring challenge

ICYMI from Benton

• North Carolina Community College System Brings the Classroom to the Learners
• The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Leans Into Collaboration
• Northwest Center Engages Community, Advances Digital Skills
• Securing Minnesota's Future with Digital Equity Capacity Funds
• Mass General Brigham Understands that Digital Equity Supports Health Equity
• Free Geek, Devices, and Digital Equity
• Trump and Carr Team to Curb Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the FCC

Upcoming Events

Feb 5—Executive Session (Senate Commerce Committee)

Feb 6—Broadband Beneath the Waves: Understanding the World of Submarine Cables (Information Technology & Innovation Foundation)

Feb 11––State of the Net Conference 2025 (Internet Education Foundation)

Feb 13-14––NTIA Grantee Workshop: Atlanta (NTIA)

Feb 20––Honoring Broadband Pioneers: From the Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity (NTIA)

Feb 25––The Attention Economy: Monopolizing Kids’ Time Online (FTC)

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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