The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to expedite its processing of space and earth station applications to meet the growing needs of today's commercial space sector. These new rules also serve to lay the groundwork for the Space Bureau’s new Transparency Initiative, which will provide information and guidance, in a variety of forms, to potential applicants in order to prepare them to successfully obtain authorizations for space and earth stations—that is, satellites and the ground-based transmitters communicating with them. This initiative will reduce administrative burdens on both applicants and FCC staff and further expedite the processing of applications. Further, the new rules take concrete steps to expedite the initial processing of applications for authority to operate space and earth stations under part 25 of the FCC's rules. This new Report and Order establishes timeframes for placing space and earth station applications on notice for public comment, permits applicants to apply for authority to operate in frequencies in bands where there is not already an international allocation for the satellite services to be provided, provides flexibility for non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) licensees to have more than one unbuilt system without facing potential dismissal of their applications and streamlines processing of earth station operators’ requests to add space stations as points of communication.

On September 20, 2023, a bipartisan group of 25 lawmakers, the Rural Broadband Caucus, urged Congressional leadership and President Joe Biden to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program.  The Affordable Connectivity Program has provided 21 million Americans with internet access since its creation. Right now, the Affordable Connectivity Program is set to run out of funding in 2024. In their letter, the lawmakers pushed to extend the program and ensure Americans can continue to access the high-speed internet they need to succeed in the 21st century. "We urge you to support funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program as we explore new funding mechanisms to remove this program from the traditional appropriations process," said the letter. "We cannot risk our most vulnerable constituents losing access to the internet services they so depend on."

US Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) introduced the CLOSE THE GAP Act. Permitting for broadband projects and telecommunications infrastructure on federal land can delay efforts for up to 48 months, jeopardizing broadband projects, increasing costs, and limiting access to high-speed internet and vital telehealth services. The Act will:

• Modernize and streamline the permitting process to help expand access to high-speed internet and close the digital divide in rural communities.
• Promote online application tracking for broadband infrastructure projects through the existing Permitting Dashboard established under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
• Improve public safety on federal land by directing the establishment of categorical exclusions for improvements to existing infrastructure that would improve public safety capacity. 
• Provide exemptions from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for broadband infrastructure that resides on land that has previously received an approved permit to install broadband infrastructure.
• Provide exemptions from NEPA and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requirements for projects that involve the collocation of new radios on existing towers, and the removal or replacement of radios on existing towers.
• Establish a special account at the Department of the Treasury for each land management agency to deposit cost recovery fees for their own use related specifically to broadband deployment. 
• Establish a working group between each federal land management agency to periodically meet to coordinate and expedite the review of applications.

Affordability, reliability, dependability, and digital literacy are the tenets of Tennessee's draft Digital Opportunity Plan. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNDECD) released the draft plan in early September, with a period of one month for public commenters to submit their feedback before October 9. Despite statewide investments into infrastructure and adoption programs, many Tennesseans still lack access to high-speed internet, devices, and the digital skills necessary to make full use of the opportunities presented by the digital economy. Through the draft Digital Opportunity Plan, TNECD is addressing these challenges by creating a comprehensive strategy for all Tennesseans to have the resources needed to thrive in the 21st century.