Sen Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)

We write to request that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) preserve the current rules, power levels, and frameworks governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band (3.55–3.70 GHz) to protect rural and Tribal broadband, promote military readiness, and support American manufacturing. CBRS’s low-power, shared-spectrum model has become vital infrastructure nationwide, with network hardware produced from American design, construction, and investment. Today, there are over 422,000 active CBRS radio devices deployed across the country.

Sens Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Reps Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission requesting a briefing to provide insight on the implementation of Congress’s universal service directives and help inform the Universal Service Fund Working Group’s leadership to modernise the Universal Service Fund. The lawmakers request a staff-level briefing covering: 

Sens Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) led six senators to urge Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to reverse the agency’s decision to weaken broadband label rules that help consumers understand the type of broadband services they are buying before committing to a provider.

We write to request the [NTIA's] attention to a major question emerging within the BEAD Program. Under the latest BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, many states likely will — or already do — have leftover BEAD allocations. Given the intent of Congress that these resources be used to expand broadband access nationwide, we respectfully seek clarity on how NTIA will ensure proper stewardship of non-deployment funds to close the digital divide. We respectfully request that NTIA provide: 

Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) called on Arielle Roth, the recently confirmed Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to fulfill her responsibility to fully implement programs authorized and funded by Congress—specifically, the Digital Equity Act and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Senator Luján urged Roth to make her first act as Administrator the immediate restoration of suspended digital equity grants and the release of approved federal funding to connect all New Mexicans to broadband.

Sens Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) called on the Trump Administration to immediately release the $42 billion allocated for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

We write with concern regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s recent announcement that it is delaying the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. This unprecedented move by the NTIA will further delay our communities from having the connectivity they need to grow and thrive. To unlock the full strength of the U.S. economy, every community must have access to the vast opportunities enabled by broadband, and this can be achieved by your Administration following the law as outlined in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Twenty senators penned a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to improve access to local media on streaming platforms. Current law and FCC rules state that traditional cable and satellite networks must work directly with a local television station before broadcasting local news, sports, and other programming. However, linear streaming services over the internet are not required to negotiate directly with local television stations.

US Sens Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and John Thune (R-SD), Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, respectively, announced Reps Bob Latta (R-OH) and Doris Matsui (D-CA), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, respectively, have joined the Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group. Launched in early 2023 in the Senate, the USF Working Group was established to evaluate and propose potential reforms to the USF, with the goal of developing a bipartisan forum to guide education, awareness, and policy-making.

We write concerning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) “Prevention and Elimination of Digital Discrimination” (Docket/RM 22-69). We urge you to take swift action to adopt final rules to facilitate equal access to broadband internet.  Congress intended Section 60506 to require internet service providers to end discrimination resulting from programs and policies that perpetuate systemic barriers for people of color and other underserved groups.