House of Representatives
Rep Allen Reintroduces Bill to Streamline Broadband Deployment
Rep Rick Allen (R-GA-12) reintroduced the Broadband Expansion and Deployment Fee Equity and Efficiency Act of 2025, or "BEAD FEE Act." This legislation will improve transparency in the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program—allowing accountability for application fees. The bill restricts recipients of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program grants from charging fees related to the deployment of broadband infrastructure.
Rep Feenstra Leads Legislation to Permanently Extend Medicare Coverage of Audio-Only Telehealth
Reps Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) introduced the Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act, which would make Medicare’s coverage of audio-only telehealth services permanent. The current waiver—which is set to expire on March 31, 2025—allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reimburse healthcare providers for patient evaluation, patient management, and behavioral health services over the phone.
Reps Kat Cammack and Doris Matsui Introduce The DIGITAL Applications Act
Reps Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Deploying Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions and Legacy Applications Act (DIGITAL Applications Act). The bill establishes online portals for the acceptance, processing, and disposal of a Form 299 for communications use authorizations at the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. Form 299s are used for permitting related to communications technology.
Lawmakers Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Establish Trans-Atlantic Submarine Fiber Optic Table Legislation
Rep Stacy Plaskett (D-VI) and Rep Russ Fulcher (R-ID) reintroduced legislation (H.R.3385) to request an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a Trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable that will connect the East coast of the United States, via the United States Virgin Islands, with Nigeria and Ghana. Presently, there is no direct fiber optic link between the US and the continent of Africa.
Rep Kean Introduces Bill to Promote American Standard-Setting
Rep Tom Kean (R-NJ-7) introduced the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that would bolster American technological leadership by bringing key trusted leaders together and encourage U.S. participation in global standards-setting for 5G networks and for future generations of wireless communications networks. This bill would direct the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to:
Rep Buchanan Introduces Bills to Expand Access to Telehealth
Rep Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced two bills to extend flexible health care options to Americans in need of timely care. Rep Buchanan introduced the Permanent Telehealth from Home Act (H.R. 1407) to remove obstructive geographic limitations to telehealth services and the Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act (H.R.
Rep Pfluger Introduces Bill to Expand Broadband Access
Reps August Pfluger (R-TX-11) and Darren Soto (D-FL-09) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to improve transparency and efficiency in the broadband deployment process, which will help close the digital divide for rural Americans. The Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress within 180 days detailing how the agency will track the acceptance, processing, and disposal of broadband permitting applications on federal lands.
Rep Gosar Reintroduces the Stop the Censorship Act
Rep Paul Gosar (R-AZ) reintroduced H.R. 908, the Stop the Censorship Act, legislation reforming Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 to end Big Tech’s broad ability to censor Americans. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1934 deputizes Big Tech companies to censor competition and lawful political speech, even affording immunity from legal challenges against anticompetitive conduct.