The Republicans Driving Broadband Policy in the 119th Congress

On January 3, 2025, the 119th Congress was sworn in. Republicans now hold majorities in both the House and the Senate. With the incoming Trump administration, Congressional Republicans have a lengthy list of priorities. Although broadband does not appear to be near the top of the policy agenda, observers are looking to see how the new leadership will approach the broadband programs established by Congress in recent years including the deployment and digital equity grants created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation's jurisdiction includes communications, interstate commerce, consumer issues, economic development, technology, and competitiveness among other issues. The Commerce Committee is likely to drive broadband policy and oversight in the coming years—and a former Republican leader of the committee will now head the full Senate. Here we take a look at the broadband priorities of two new Senate leaders in the 119th Congress.