FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel's Testimony Before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

I want to start by thanking the Subcommittee for its decision to provide full funding for the Federal Communications Commission in your Fiscal Year 2024 FSGG bill. The work of the FCC matters. I’d like to highlight some the Commission’s recent work, made possible by your support of our budget, under my leadership. First, the Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program, the largest broadband affordability program in our nation’s history, now helps 21 million households pay for high-speed internet service. I strongly support identifying a way to fund the Affordable Connectivity Program into the future to help more families get and stay connected to the high-speed internet they need to participate in modern life. The Emergency Connectivity Fund has helped close the Homework Gap, ensuring that 18 million students everywhere have the ability to get online for schoolwork both in the classroom and at home. Second, we are doing our part to keep pace with rapid development of the satellite sector and the growing importance of space-based communications. Third, the FCC made the regulatory fees that support our work more transparent and more fair. Fourth, the agency’s work to create the National Broadband Map—the most accurate broadband map ever created—will help close the digital divide. Fifth, we implemented the Pirate Act and enhanced our protections of licensed broadcasters from pirate radio. Sixth, the FCC is working to connect the most vulnerable. Seventh, we are doubling down on our efforts to stop scam robocalls and robotexts. Eighth, the FCC is helping connect people to emergency services. Ninth, the FCC is doing more than ever before to keep your communications more resilient and secure. Tenth, we are finding more ways to use spectrum to support wireless communications into the future.