Federal Communications Commission

The American people elected Donald Trump to be President of the United States and gave him a mandate to increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar. In Fiscal Year 2024, of the nearly $10 trillion that the Federal Government spent, more than $3 trillion was Federal financial assistance, such as grants and loans. Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities.

On January 24, 2025, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr ended the FCC’s consideration of a 2024 proposal that sought to regulate so-called “bulk billing” arrangements. These bulk billing programs have enabled families living in apartments and other multi-tenant environments to pay lower prices for Internet service. Chairman Carr said, "During the Biden-Harris Administration, FCC leadership put forward a ‘bulk billing’ proposal that could have raised the price of Internet service for Americans living in apartments by as much as 50 percent.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) led 13 Senate Commerce Republicans in introducing a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) that would nullify a partisan FCC order. As adopted, the Biden administration’s Wi-Fi Hotspot Order expanded the Universal Service Fund (USF) to subsidize Wi-Fi hotspots for off-campus use by schoolchildren. This partisan order, strongly opposed by then-Commissioner Brendan Carr and Commissioner Nathan 

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced the appointment of additional FCC leadership positions. 

• Tom Sullivan, Acting Chief of the Office of International Affairs.
• Ira Keltz, Acting Chief Engineer, Office of Engineering and Technology.
• Catherine Matraves, Acting Chief of the Office of Economics and Analytics.
• Katie Gorscak, Acting Director of the Office of Media Relations.

Spectrum announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to more than 3,100 homes and small businesses across McMinn and Meigs Counties (TN). Spectrum’s multi-year Rural Construction Initiative is an investment of approximately $9 billion – partly offset by over $2 billion in government support funding – that will ultimately connect approximately 1.75 million new homes and small businesses across the country.

President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Monday, January 20, and soon began fulfilling a number of campaign promises by signing a number of Executive Orders at Washington's Capital One Arena in front of thousands of supporters—a first in the nation's history—and later at the White House. Understanding the full impact of these executive actions will take some time; we start with an examination of the Executive Order on Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and how it is being implemented at the Federal Communications Commission.

Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks announced the following changes to his team. Milla Anderson, formerly Commissioner Starks’ Policy Advisor, departed the FCC.  Anderson joins the private sector. Following Anderson’s departure, Kiara Ortiz will be serving as Acting Legal Advisor. Ortiz comes from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau where she is Legal Advisor to the Bureau Chief.  She began her career at the FCC as an Honors Attorney.  She has a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and a B.A. from Spelman College.  

Rep Rick Allen (R-GA) introduced the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025. This legislation extends the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) spectrum auction authority and seeks to ensure the efficient allocation of mid-band spectrum, a resource critical for the advancement of 5G and next-generation technologies. Specifically, the bill:

Virginia has made significant progress in providing high-speed connectivity to all its households and businesses over the past decade and anticipates using $1.43 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding to reach 100 percent connectivity to all addresses in the next few years.

NaLA’s Annual Consumer Survey sheds light on life without the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Results from over 68,000 respondents, collected between November 1 and 20, 2024, highlight the critical need for the Lifeline and ACP programs to connect low-income households. This year, NaLA’s survey also included more than 30,000 personal testimonies from Lifeline and/or former ACP participants. These stories underscore the profound impact of both programs on consumers and the urgent need for continued support. Key findings include: