Policymakers

In a series of confirmation hearings starting March 21, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee will question Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s pick to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court — and while tech policy is not expected to be a major area of focus for either party, two issues in particular could come up. Critics of the tech industry’s treasured liability shield often claim judges have interpreted Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act too broadly.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Assistant Secretary of Commerce Alan Davidson named staff representatives to participate on each other’s advisory committees. This is a critical component of the FCC and National Telecommunication and Information Administration’s Spectrum Coordination Initiative, under which they are taking actions to strengthen the processes for decision making and information sharing and to work cooperatively to resolve spectrum policy issues.

National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan announced a new directorate within the U.S.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, President Biden's most powerful appointee on technology, has largely been an ally to the sector, defending US tech firms abroad and pushing for funding domestically. With Big Tech critics in charge of the government's antitrust enforcement efforts, Sec Raimondo has become the industry's key advocate within the Biden administration. She was deeply involved in negotiations on the bipartisan infrastructure law, with her agency 

Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) is very likely on his way out as the current ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee. And all signs point to Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX) replacing him as ranking member — or chair, depending on how November 2022’s election shapes up — by this time in 2023. The Texas senator has a reputation as a political firebrand unconcerned with diplomatic niceties.

US officials are stepping up a campaign to defeat a Russian candidate for a United Nations agency that could determine how much control governments have over the internet. Russia's designs on the little-known agency raise the stakes for what the Russian government's vision of the internet could mean for the rest of the world, especially following its

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced an addition to the Office of Legislative Affairs and a transition of leadership in the agency’s Wireline Competition Bureau. Brian Moulton will serve as the Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, and Trent Harkrader will lead the Wireline Competition Bureau as Chief following Kris Monteith’s retirement from federal service.

The Office of US Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) hosted Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque for a roundtable discussion with the Connect New Mexico Council on investments for broadband and telecommunications made possible by the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Senator Luján fought to expand the Affordable Connectivity Benefit which makes broadband more affordable for 785,000 New Mexicans, in addition to at least $100 million that New Mexico is expected to receive for broadband buildout.