The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of the Managing Director (OMD) offer guidance to participants in the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program on the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023 and announce June 30, 2024 as the sunset date for the ECF Program. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Act), Congress appropriated $7.171 billion and directed the FCC to promulgate rules to distribute funding from the ECF to eligible schools and libraries for the purchase during the COVID-19 emergency period of eligible equipment and/or advanced telecommunications and information services for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations that include locations other than a school or library. On May 10, 2021, the FCC adopted the Emergency Connectivity Fund Report and Order establishing the rules for the ECF Program to distribute the funding to eligible schools and libraries. As of May 11, 2023, $3.173 billion has been disbursed to ECF participants. For all funding requests with outstanding commitments or pending decisions, the expiration of the COVID-19 emergency period requires that all purchases of eligible equipment and services must be made by June 30, 2024, in order for the purchase to be eligible for reimbursement through the ECF Program.

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL), Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL), Congressman Ronny Jackson (R-TX), and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) introduced the Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2023. The Rural Internet Improvement Act eliminates duplicative broadband programs at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) by merging and codifying the popular Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect) with USDA's broadband loan and grant program. ReConnect builds upon past successes of these programs by enhancing the participation of all types of providers. Reliable high-speed broadband services are necessary for America's rural communities, providing opportunities for telehealth, education, and economic development. There are more than 14.5 million Americans who still lack access to both fixed and mobile broadband, according to the Federal Communications Commission's most recent Broadband Deployment Report. 
 

President Joe Biden (D-DE) signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)  18 months ago. To date, the Administration has announced over $220 billion in IIJA funding, including over 32,000 specific projects and awards, across over 4,500 communities in all 50 states, DC, and territories. To implement the law, agencies have now hired over 5,000 federal employees, and states and territories have appointed infrastructure coordinators to facilitate clear communication and coordination with the federal government. Key projects are moving forward across the country – many of which had been waiting decades on the sidelines. The IIJA invests $65 billion to help ensure that every American has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet through a historic commitment to broadband adoption and infrastructure deployment. Since IIJA’s passage, the Administration has worked to streamline the portfolio of complementary programs into a two-pronged strategy that focused most specifically on affordability and access and deployment. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is the centerpiece of the Administration’s affordability work. Currently, 17.9 million households have enrolled in the ACP, with more enrolling every day. The Federal Communications Commission has allocated $100 million for paid media and grants to organizations to do ACP outreach, the first $73 million of grants of which was announced last month. On deployment, the Department of Commerce and Department of Agriculture are coordinating a joint effort to announce $1.7 billion in grants for rural broadband, $1 billion for Middle Mile high-speed Internet infrastructure, and state allocations for the $42.5 billion state grant program.  Commerce has also awarded 147 Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, totaling more than $1.76 billion, and serving over 210 Tribal Governments, with additional awards expected in the coming week (May 15-19). The IIJA also invests more than $13 billion directly to Tribal communities to provide affordable high-speed internet, safer roads and bridges, modern wastewater and sanitations systems, clean drinking water, reliable and affordable electricity, and good paying jobs.

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Oversee Emerging Technology Act to require relevant federal agencies to designate a senior official able to advise on the responsible use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing. Ensuring that every agency using or procuring these new tools is appropriately staffed will improve accountability and facilitate greater oversight — protecting the American people from the potential harms of government misuse and ensuring that the federal government’s deployment of this technology respects civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and due process. Specifically, the Oversee Emerging Technology Act would: 

• Require agency heads to appoint or designate a senior official tasked with advising on the responsible use of emerging technologies.
• Charge the senior official with providing expertise on responsible policies and practices, collaborate with officials and coordinating bodies across the Federal government, and offer input for responsible procurement policies.
• Require agency heads to identify the official and provide a description of the official’s authorities and responsibilities to Congress. 

Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) reintroduced the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, a bipartisan bill to modernize and codify the NTIA’s work in cybersecurity. The NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development would be renamed the Office for Policy Development and Cybersecurity to better align with the agency’s 21st-century mission of helping secure the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The redesignated office would be led by an Associate Administrator and be responsible for:

• Developing cybersecurity policy as it relates to telecommunications, the internet, consumer software services, and public media;
• Creating guidance and support for implementing cybersecurity and privacy measures for internet and telecommunication companies;
• Promoting collaboration between security research and industry;
• Preventing and mitigating future software vulnerabilities in communications networks;
• Removing barriers for implementing, understanding, and investing in cybersecurity for communications and software providers; and
• Providing technical assistance on cybersecurity practices to small and rural communications service providers.