December 21, 2023
Sens. Thune and Cruz and Reps. Rodgers and Latta Raise Concerns About the FCC’s Management of ACP
On December 15, Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Bob Latta (R-OH) sent a letter to the FCC expressing concern with its management of ACP. The Members wrote the letter following the November 30th House Energy & Commerce Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight hearing. During that hearing, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel testified that 25 million households would lose access to the internet if funding for ACP is not extended.
The Members wrote that “it appears the vast majority of tax dollars have gone to households that already had broadband prior to the subsidy. According to your testimony, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) found that only “20 or 22 percent” of ACP recipients lacked broadband prior to the ACP… When questioned about these wasteful discrepancies, you dismissed these concerns, claiming that Congress did not require broadband providers to ask subscribers whether they paid for broadband prior to the ACP program. You claimed, therefore, that any data on the ratio of new subscribers to subscribers who previously paid for broadband prior to ACP was merely ‘speculative.’”
Rep. Griffith Urges NTIA to Approve Virginia’s BEAD Plan
On December 18, Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) sent a letter to NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson urging NTIA to approve Virginia’s BEAD plan. In the letter, Rep. Griffith mentioned that he’s heard NTIA’s critiques of multiple states’ plans “that imply that it is necessary to include certain rate requirements in their state BEAD plans…As [he] mentioned previously, such prescriptive policy preferences and mandates are not required by the IIJA…[and] it seems as though NTIA is asking states to take an action that NTIA does not have the authority to require.”
2023 Cable Broadband Highlights: Rural Expansion, Digital Inclusion, 10G, and Sustainability
On December 19, NCTA published a web article highlighting the cable industry’s initiatives over the last year, including deploying and upgrading rural networks, addressing digital inclusion demands, and 10G network deployments.
Happy Holidays!
The House adjourned on December 15 and the Senate on December 20. The Senate will reconvene on January 8 followed by the House on January 9.
If you have an opportunity to see your Members while they are home during the break, let them know about your company’s efforts to build out to new, previously unserved communities. It is important for them to hear directly from you about the many ways your company is working to ensure their constituents are informed, staying connected or getting connected for the first time. Please let us know about any outreach to your Members by submitting a quick report at https://s.ncta.com/KeyContactReport/ or by emailing one of us below.
We thank you for all you do to support NCTA and advocate on behalf of the industry. Happy holidays!
Sens. Thune and Cruz and Reps. Rodgers and Latta Raise Concerns About the FCC’s Management of ACP
On December 15, Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Bob Latta (R-OH) sent a letter to the FCC expressing concern with its management of ACP. The Members wrote the letter following the November 30th House Energy & Commerce Communications Subcommittee FCC oversight hearing. During that hearing, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel testified that 25 million households would lose access to the internet if funding for ACP is not extended.
The Members wrote that “it appears the vast majority of tax dollars have gone to households that already had broadband prior to the subsidy. According to your testimony, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) found that only “20 or 22 percent” of ACP recipients lacked broadband prior to the ACP… When questioned about these wasteful discrepancies, you dismissed these concerns, claiming that Congress did not require broadband providers to ask subscribers whether they paid for broadband prior to the ACP program. You claimed, therefore, that any data on the ratio of new subscribers to subscribers who previously paid for broadband prior to ACP was merely ‘speculative.’”
Rep. Griffith Urges NTIA to Approve Virginia’s BEAD Plan
On December 18, Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) sent a letter to NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson urging NTIA to approve Virginia’s BEAD plan. In the letter, Rep. Griffith mentioned that he’s heard NTIA’s critiques of multiple states’ plans “that imply that it is necessary to include certain rate requirements in their state BEAD plans…As [he] mentioned previously, such prescriptive policy preferences and mandates are not required by the IIJA…[and] it seems as though NTIA is asking states to take an action that NTIA does not have the authority to require.”
2023 Cable Broadband Highlights: Rural Expansion, Digital Inclusion, 10G, and Sustainability
On December 19, NCTA published a web article highlighting the cable industry’s initiatives over the last year, including deploying and upgrading rural networks, addressing digital inclusion demands, and 10G network deployments.
Happy Holidays!
The House adjourned on December 15 and the Senate on December 20. The Senate will reconvene on January 8 followed by the House on January 9.
If you have an opportunity to see your Members while they are home during the break, let them know about your company’s efforts to build out to new, previously unserved communities. It is important for them to hear directly from you about the many ways your company is working to ensure their constituents are informed, staying connected or getting connected for the first time. Please let us know about any outreach to your Members by submitting a quick report at https://s.ncta.com/KeyContactReport/ or by emailing one of us below.
We thank you for all you do to support NCTA and advocate on behalf of the industry. Happy holidays!