Rep Tim Walberg (R-MI)
House Commerce Committee Republicans to NTIA: By Allowing States to Regulate Broadband Rates, NTIA is Ignoring Congressional Intent
We write in response to your testimony at the December 5, 2023, hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology titled, “Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).” Throughout the hearing, you provided troubling answers that suggested that the NTIA would permit rate regulation by states participating in the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
Rep. Walberg (R-MI) Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Telehealth Benefits for American Workers
Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act (H.R.824), bipartisan legislation which would expand access to telehealth services by classifying these services as an excepted benefit for employer-sponsored health coverage.
Bipartisan Letter to FCC on Rural Broadband Deployment Questions Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), Senator John Thune (R-SD), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a bipartisan letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai and fellow commissioners regarding implementation of programs to help close the digital divide in rural America. With the recent completion of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction, the letter urges the FCC to ensure recipients of broadband deployment funding can deliver on their commitments. In total, 157 Representatives and Senators joined Walberg on the letter.
Reps Walberg, Clarke Introduce the TOWER Infrastructure Deployment Act
Reps Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) introduced the TOWER Infrastructure Deployment Act (HR 3255), bipartisan legislation to help close the workforce shortage in the telecommunications industry. HR 3255 reflects the need for a highly-skilled, professional workforce equipped to deploy 5G, lightning-fast broadband networks, and new broadcast technology. The act:
H.R. 1644 Hurts Rural Broadband
While Republicans support free and open Internet and have offered three bills to start a conversation on the best approach to codifying protections for consumers, H.R. 1644—The Save the Internet Act—is more about scoring political points than protecting consumers from ISP blocking and throttling. H.R. 1644 would restore the heavy-handed, government control of the Internet that depressed investment in broadband networks for two years.