Federal Communications Commission

This year’s policy platform highlights the various broadband issues that SHLB plans to prioritize in 2025. Within each topic, we look for opportunities to advocate for anchor institutions and their communities at the federal and state level. While we highlight many issues in this platform, these remain only guideposts to the policy work that we might accomplish throughout the year. SHLB always remains flexible in its efforts and stands ready to respond to the dynamic policy landscape.

On October 16, 2024, the Center for American Rights (CAR) filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting an investigation into WCBS, New York, NY, for “news distortion” in the airing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then Vice President Kamala Harris. On February 3, 2025, in response to a request from the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, the WCBS licensee provided the Commission with an unedited transcript and video of the 60 Minutes interview in question.

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.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr announced the appointment of additional FCC leadership positions:

• Adam Candeub, General Counsel of the FCC
• Jay Schwarz, Chief, Space Bureau
• Adam Jackman, Director of Strategic Communications, Office of Media Relations
• Dana Howell, Executive Assistant, Office of Chairman Brendan Carr

Broadband access for all has long been a critical issue for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund. With the launch of the Center for Civil Rights and Technology in September 2023, these legacy civil rights organizations renewed their commitment and dedication to closing the digital divide—the persistent gap between people who have access to digital technology and those who do not. The startling connections among demographics, regions, and lack of access to broadband highlight the critical need to close this gap.

This episode of The Divide features a conversation with Danielle Perry, chief compliance officer at TruConnect, and a board member at the National Lifeline Association (NaLA), where she also chairs NaLA's regulatory and government affairs committee.

On January 16, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) closed out Jessica Rosenworcel’s term as Chairwoman by releasing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to expand the use of the 896-901/935-940 MHz band for broadband use. The NPRM builds on the FCC's 2019 rulemaking, which created a 3/3 MHz broadband allocation at 897.5-900.5/936.5-939.5 MHz and established a process for clearing narrowband incumbents from the band. Of note, the FCC asks whether to lift or modify the ongoing narrowband licensing freeze for the 900 MHz band.

According to Albert Einstein, insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Congress is taking this to a whole new level with its latest discussions about how to “fix” broadband internet deployment across the United States. The most vociferous criticisms of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program have centered on how long it has taken to deploy. On its face, that is a fair criticism. Contextualized, however, the criticism does not hold water. No one is asking why it took so long. The simple answer: Maps.

This annual report provides a summary of the National Verifier and its functionality, and it outlines how the National Verifier meets the Federal Communications Commission's key objectives: to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse; to lower costs to the Universal Service Fund (Fund) and service providers through administrative efficiencies; and to better serve eligible beneficiaries by facilitating choice and improving the enrollment experience. This report also provides an update on the use and performance of the National Verifier, including a discussion of system enhancements.

For the Second Quarter of 2025 (2Q2025), the Federal Communications Commission's High Cost Support Mechanism funding requirements are projected as follows: $51.81 million for High Cost Loop (HCL) support, $253.11 million for Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS), $2.81 million for frozen Price Cap Carrier Support, $6.40 million for CAF Phase II, $36.60 million for CAF Phase II Auction, $88.36 million for frozen Competitive Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (CETC) Support, $84.32 million for CAF/ICC Support, $41.70 million for Alaska Plan Support, $43.57 mi