US Senate

Sens Edward Markey (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission expressing support for the agency’s recent notice of proposed rulemaking to enhance the resiliency of communications networks during emergency situations. Strong action by the FCC is necessary to address the growing threats to communications networks created by extreme weather, natural disasters, including wildfires, and climate change-related events, which are increasingly causing more frequent and severe service disruptions.

In a letter on broadband deployment to Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to President Joseph Biden for Infrastructure Coordination, Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) urged the Administration to address challenges surrounding access to rights of way and poles, historic and environmental reviews, and approval of a variety of applications and permits. A streamlined permitting and approval process would certainly expedite deployment of broadband.

US Sens John Thune (R-SD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Connect Unserved Americans Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) targets funding through the ReConnect Program to areas most in need of reliable broadband services.

In a letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson, Sen Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen Steve Daines (R-MT) and several other senators urged the agency to prioritize funding for broadband projects in unserved rural areas. "NTIA has an opportunity to make substantial impact on connecting rural America. However, doing so will require that your agency outline rules that specifically prohibit overbuilding and that set clear criteria to ensure projects targeted at unserved areas are actually prioritized," said the February 4 letter.

Sens Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) led a bipartisan and bicameral group of 45 lawmakers in calling for the extension of expanded coverage of telehealth services to be included in must-pass legislation in February 2022. Provisions from the Schatz-authored CONNECT for Health Act were included in previous COVID-19 relief legislation to allow Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country, and in their homes, to utilize telehealth services and to expand the types of health care providers eligible to provide telehealth.

Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) sent a letter urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to work cooperatively to resolve spectrum policy issues and update the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on spectrum coordination, which has not been updated since 2003. "With your recent confirmations by the Senate, it is now time to take steps toward improving the cooperation and collaboration between your agencies that is essential to spectrum management and the future of US spectrum policy," says Thune.