Speech

You probably know Benton for our newsletters and our own reporting on what is happening in the broadband and tech policy world. But in the last few years, we have been working at the state and community level—with advocates, policymakers, and just passionate folks who want better broadband for crying out loud. In 2023, we launched the Broadband State Education Project in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, and later expanded into Western North Carolina.

 It is time to unleash new growth and opportunity.  It is time to build.  And that is what I am here today—to outline my vision for doing just that through the Federal Communications Commission’s Build America Agenda. Our Build America Agenda will focus on delivering on a number of core objectives.  We will unleash high-speed infrastructure builds.  We will restore America’s leadership in wireless.  We will boost the U.S. space economy.  We will advance our national security.  And we will strengthen America’s tower and telecom workforce.

I’m going to talk about something that I imagine will be discussed at about half of the panels here—the Commerce Department’s June 6 Policy Notice laying out the Administration’s new requirements for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. While I’m sure that some of you are steeped in the details of the Policy Notice, I’m guessing that many of you aren’t. My plan is to walk you through the highlights and give my spin.

President Trump announced by tweet (or whatever it is they do on Truth Social) that he was somehow “ending” the Digital Equity Act, calling it “UNCONSTITUTIONAL” and “ILLEGAL.” The next day, letters were sent to states and awardees across the country terminating their grants. And so, just like that, nearly $3 billion in funding and years of work came to a halt. So, what are we going to do about it? When President Trump illegally and unconstitutionally attempted to end the Digital Equity Act, I became angry. Really, really angry. Is anybody else in this room angry?

Ibrahim Emara’s approach to digital inclusion is rooted in accessibility, cultural relevance, and strategic engagement. His digital inclusion efforts have directly impacted immigrants, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income students, ensuring they are not left behind in the digital age. Building capacity and access takes teamwork and dedication. Ibrahim co-developed and co-taught the Neighborhood Allies Adult Digital Skills Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative addressing “digital skills deserts” in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

It has been a particularly busy time at the Federal Communications Commission since Inauguration Day, when President Trump designated me as Chairman of the agency.  We have hit the ground running, and I’d like to highlight some of the Commission’s critical work under my leadership thus far:

I speak to you this morning as the President’s Science and Technology Advisor, who has been given three interconnected tasks in pursuit of a Golden Age of Innovation: to maintain American technological leadership; to ensure all Americans enjoy the fruit of transformative advances in science and technology; and, a mission I believe we all share, to revitalize America’s scientific enterprise.... To empower America’s researchers to achieve groundbreaking discoveries and to reinvigorate our national science enterprise, we must scrutinize our existing approach and recommit ourselves to best prac

Our current political moment poses challenges unlike anything I thought I would face as an FCC Commissioner.  This Administration has been on a campaign to censor and control since, well, before day one.  And since day one the FCC has been implementing the will of this Administration and undermining the First Amendment at every turn.  The First Amendment has protected our fundamental right to speak freely and to hold power to account since 1791. It is foundational to our democracy.  Today, the greatest threat to that freedom is coming from our own government.

Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez spoke at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit, where she addressed efforts by the FCC and other government entities to intimidate private companies because of internal labor practices meant to promote fairness in hiring: “Private businesses all over the country are under attack. Creeping government intervention is making companies think twice about the way they describe internal diversity programs.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered remarks to hundreds of local leaders at the National Association of Counties. She spoke about vision for restoring rural prosperity to America. "We will ensure that USDA’s Rural Development programs are running as efficiently and effectively as possible to support the people they are intended to serve. We are carefully considering how we can improve programs to incentivize greater growth.