The Federal Scene
Keeping up with Congress, federal agencies and more
This page keeps you abreast of D.C. telecom-related actions, whether they come from the executive, legislative or judicial branch.
Latest updates
02.01.19 - The D.C. Circuit Court issued an opinion,
vacating the FCC’s 2017 Tribal Lifeline Order.
The court found the FCC’s adoption of these two limitations was arbitrary and
capricious and the FCC failed to provide an adequate opportunity for comment on
the proposed limitations. The court remanded this matter to the FCC for a new
notice-and-comment rulemaking proceeding.
01.31.19 - The
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the Committee on Energy and
Commerce announced a hearing entitled “Preserving an Open Internet for Consumers, Small
Businesses, and Free Speech” will be held on February 7, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. (press release)
01.30.19 – Geoffrey Starks was sworn in as a commissioner at
the FCC. (Starks
statement)
01.25.19 - President Trump signed
into law
H.J. Res. 28, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019,
which includes a short-term continuing resolution that provides fiscal year
2019 appropriations through February 15, 2019, for continuing projects and
activities of the federal government.
01.02.19 - The Senate confirmed
Brendan Carr and
Geoffrey Starks to the FCC. Carr will continue his tenure at the Commission with his confirmation to a full term that began on July 1, 2018, and Starks will be sworn in to serve the remainder of a term that began on July 1, 2017. |
Pai statement
01.02.19 - The FCC issued a
public notice announcing in the event of a continued partial lapse in federal government funding the FCC will suspend most operations in the middle of the day on Thursday, January 3, 2019.
12.20.18 –
President Trump signed the
2018 Farm Bill, which includes reforms to ease regulatory barriers and better target broadband funds to increase access to broadband internet for farmers and rural communities. |
USDA press release
12.13.18 - The FCC released a
report and order that offers additional funding to carriers that currently receive A-CAM support in exchange for deploying broadband at increased speeds, provides an opportunity for legacy carriers to transition to model-based support, and authorizes additional
support for carriers remaining on the legacy rate-of-return support mechanisms in exchange for targeting higher broadband speeds.
12.13.18 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture
announced it is offering up to $600 million in loans and grants to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. The USDA released a
fact sheet and
FAQ on its ReConnect program.
12.11.18 - The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a
hearing entitled “RAY BAUM’S Act: A Bipartisan Foundation for Bridging the Digital Divide.” |
press release
News clips