Upcoming policy issue

The federal government has obligated all $42.45 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding to states and territories. This means that, subject to the terms and conditions of their awards, Eligible Entities can access their BEAD allocation to connect every resident to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.

A look at some of the possible changes to the Universal Service Fund (USF):

Jonathan Kanter has stepped down as one of President Joe Biden’s top antitrust enforcers, but he is hopeful that the next administration will uphold the crackdown on corporate power that he has helped unleash. Since taking the job in 2021, Kanter shook the establishment by rejecting the notion that corporate growth be tolerated so long as consumers were not harmed—a shift from the “consumer welfare” standard that has underpinned US antitrust policy since the 1970s. During his tenure he has successfully blocked several major 

President-elect Trump has tasked Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk with eliminating federal government waste through the Department of Government Efficiency. We believe there’s a huge opportunity to reduce government spending while improving service—by relocating more federal services online, supported by robust internet connections.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed the allocation of additional spectrum resources necessary for space launch communications needs. The Chairwoman has championed U.S. leadership in space launch activities and making Commission processes simpler and more open to new entrants. These rules would add spectrum to support space launch activities and build upon Commission action in 2023 that will enable companies to conduct launch activities without needing to request temporary authority from the FCC for each space launch.

House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) applauds the passage of three communications and technology bills. 

Rep Bob Latta (R-OH) said he hoped the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to auction off spectrum could be restored in a budget reconciliation bill in 2025. Latta chairs the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, which deals with telecommunications issues. It’s part of the House Commerce Committee, which Rep Latta said is “going to play a large part in” a reconciliation bill. Budget reconciliations allow lawmakers to bypass the Senate’s filibuster and move spending bills with a bare majority.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, wants the FCC to crack down on news broadcasters that he perceives as being unfair to Trump or Republicans in general. Carr's stated goals would appear to mark a major shift in the FCC's approach to broadcasters.

Internet providers, utility companies and West Virginia broadband officials are trying to speed up settling pole attachment disputes that threaten the state’s $1.2 billion broadband expansion, according to two proposals from a closed-door task force obtained by Mountain State Spotlight. The first would speed up resolving disputes and the second would require utilities to report more information about the status of their poles. As internet service providers apply to attach fiber or other equipment to poles owned by power companies, they’ve been charged unexpected fees and the costs associate

Rural broadband providers just got a couple of early Christmas gifts in the form of regulatory relief. But whether the moves will amount to anything once Trump takes office remains to be seen. The U.S. Senate passed legislation that would essentially simplify financial reporting requirements for rural telecommunications providers.