Letter

The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA)'s Chairman of the Board Todd Harpest sent a letter to 17 Members of the US House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology reiterating support for a technologically neutral approach to the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act's (IIJA) broadband deployment, affordability and digital equity support programs.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) wrote a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel regarding the issue of pole attachments. Specifically, Sen Capito stressed that the high costs and long waits imposed by pole owners when poles need to be replaced are hindering the progress of broadband deployment. "There are many reasons for the stubborn lack of broadband access in rural communities, but with recent congressional action, funding is no longer one of them," said Capito.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Rosenworcel sent letters to 29 House members in response to their letter on implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provision requiring internet providers share details about their plans with consumers in an easy-to-read format. Chairwoman Rosenworcel said that on Jan. 27, 2022, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on broadband information labels, and the FCC is holding public hearings on the importance of developing these labels.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Rosenworcel sent a letter to Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-IN) in response to his letter on the efforts of the FCC to collect more precise and reliable broadband deployment data, and urging the FCC to include veterans in the FCC’s data collection and reporting. Chairwoman Rosenworcel said when the FCC completes its initial efforts to improve broadband data collection, veterans across the country will have better access to information about what services are available where they live.

Reps Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Jim Costa (D-CA) led a letter with their colleagues to urge US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack to ensure the ReConnect Pilot Program serves rural America and the underserved communities that need it most.

Seventeen Democratic members of the House Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee wrote to Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), outlining their recommendations and priorities as the agency implements the broadband programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

A coalition of organizations focused on broadband policy, housing, and addressing challenges facing under-resourced communities in our nation’s cities and throughout the country (including the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society) called for urgent action to ensure unserved households in multifamily residential housing (MDUs) are correctly identified when broadband funding is allocated. In a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the group, led by the national non-profit EducationSuperHighway, urged the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to use

Given rapid advancements in the American space sector, we appreciate the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) raising questions about how to update its satellite rules to ensure they keep pace with innovation. With recent efforts by Congress and the FCC’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), we have an opportunity to continue American leadership in a competitive global satellite marketplace.

Rep Doris Matsui (D-CA) urged Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson to prioritize the important task of reviewing current federal assignments and quantification of spectrum usage within the 7125-8400 MHz (7GHz) band. A National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) review will be crucial to determining how much of the band could accommodate commercial use. To ensure the United States remains the global pacesetter in wireless communications technology, a reliable pipeline of spectrum is needed.

Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) urged the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) to conduct an oversight review into pandemic-related spending to ensure broadband funds were used appropriately for assisting unserved communities and those economically affected by the pandemic. In response to the need for broadband amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress created multiple broadband accessibility programs that allocated billions of dollars to assist Americans in their participation in remote activities.