Letter

On March 12, 2025, Sen Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the Ranking Member of the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, wrote to the acting chiefs of the Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement and Media Bureaus seeking answers to seven questions about FCC Chairman Brendan Carr orders to reopen complaints against and investigations into media broadcasters. On March 26, Chairman Carr replied noting that "During the Biden Administration, the FCC and Democrats across government repeatedly weaponized our country’s communications laws and processes.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and its Media/Telecommunications Task Force co-chairs, UnidosUS and United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry, wrote to the chair and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee demanding that they delay the confirmation hearing for Olivia Trusty to serve as a Federal Communications Commissioner until the administration provides a binding commitment that it will keep the FCC fully staffed with five commissioners, two of whom must be Democrats.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has indicated he’ll make fundamental changes to the $42 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. These changes, such as giving a stronger preference for satellite internet, could force states to restart their broadband grant programs. On April 3, a group of 115 state legislators from 28 states sent Secretary Lutnick a letter requesting that any BEAD changes be optional rather than mandatory.

Spectrum for the Future was among 29 wireless innovators, leading businesses, and other spectrum users to urge U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to maintain and protect the Citizens Broadband Radio Service from changes that would undermine U.S. global wireless leadership. Protecting shared spectrum access in the CBRS band will ensure that American companies can continue to innovate and invest in critical shared spectrum technology that will provide an offramp from zero sum game spectrum fights and enable win-win spectrum solutions for both U.S. economic and national security.

House Commerce Committee Democrats launched an investigation into Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s attacks on the First Amendment and his weaponization of the independent agency.

Reps Greg Landsman (D-OH-1) and Troy Carter (D-LA-2) led ten other members of the House Communications Subcommittee to send a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging the immediate release of stalled Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program funds. "While we understand you have launched a review of the program, we urge you to consider the reality of where BEAD sits today and the consequences of retroactive mandates at this late stage. Despite predictions to the contrary, the so-called “pointless requirements” have not deterred private industry participation in BEAD.

I am writing to inform you that I have asked the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation into Disney and ABC.  In particular, I want to ensure that Disney and ABC have not been violating FCC equal employment opportunity regulations by promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination.  While I have seen reports that Disney recently walked back some of its DEI programs, significant concerns remain. For one, I want to ensure that Disney ends any and all discriminatory initiatives in substance, not just name.

President Trump wrote to White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, outlining "the road ahead to the Golden Age of American Innovation." The letter included three main questions: 

Sen John Thune (R-SD) led his colleagues in sending a letter to Howard Lutnick, secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, requesting the removal of extraneous regulations as Secretary Lutnick conducts his review of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, which is aimed at expanding internet access to Americans in rural areas and other unserved communities. The senators wrote, "We write to thank you for committing to a rigorous review of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.

On March 25, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to request that the Department of Defense turn over any Biden-era documents referring to the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum auction authority. In the letter, Sen Cruz details allegations that Biden-era DOD officials pressured defense contractors to lobby against reauthorizing auction authority.