Press Release

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the June Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 6, 2019:

House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and all 31 Democratic members of the committee introduced the the Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s (LIFT) America Act, a comprehensive infrastructure package aimed at combating the climate crisis, expanding broadband internet access and protecting public health. (See

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding the President’s Executive Order to protect our nation’s communications networks and the security of the communications supply chain: “Protecting America’s communications networks is vital to our national, economic, and personal security. I therefore applaud the President for issuing this Executive Order to safeguard the communications supply chain. Given the threats presented by certain foreign companies’ equipment and services, this is a significant step toward securing America’s

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is proposing bold action to help consumers block unwanted robocalls. He has circulated a declaratory ruling that, if adopted, would allow phone companies to block unwanted calls to their customers by default. In addition, companies could allow consumers to block calls not on their own contact list.

Sen Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and her fellow Senate Broadband Caucus co-chairs hosted a panel about broadband mapping titled, “Broadband Mapping: Discussing Challenges and Solutions.” At the event, Sen Klobuchar highlighted her bill with Sens Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and John Hoeven (R-ND) to improve the Federal Communication Commission’s broadband coverage maps and help close the digital divide.

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition joined Mobile Beacon, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), the North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation (NACEPF), Public Knowledge and Voqal in asking the Federal Communications Commission to request additional comment on and delay its proceeding to transform the Educational Broadband Service (EBS). The letter identified several topics on which the FCC must request additional comment due to insufficient information:

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai urging the FCC to redouble its efforts to make mid-band spectrum available for 5G. The Sens wrote, "Currently, the United States lags far behind our competitors in the availability of mid-band spectrum for 5G. While Citizens Band Radio Service will make 70 MHz of licensed spectrum available under a novel licensing scheme, much more is needed.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced another significant step in ensuring implementation of more reliable caller ID information to combat malicious spoofed robocalls. Chairman Pai expects major phone companies to implement SHAKEN/STIR caller ID authentication standards in 2019, and he will host a summit on July 11, 2019 to examine industry’s progress toward meeting this deadline. The summit will also identify any challenges to deployment of the SHAKEN/STIR framework and discuss how best to overcome them. 

On May 9, 2019, Diane Rinaldo became Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information for the Department, and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Executive Branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy. Previously, Rinaldo was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce. Focusing on cybersecurity and technology policy, Rinaldo has extensive experience in government and the private sector throughout her career.

Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the bipartisan Broadband Mapping After Scrutiny (MAPS) Act. The legislation would require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a challenge process to verify fixed and mobile broadband service coverage data. Current FCC broadband maps are inaccurate, showing coverage where it doesn’t exist. This leaves consumers without access to broadband and directs funding to the wrong areas.