US Senate
Sens Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand Tribal Broadband Application Deadline
Sens Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with 11 of their Senate colleagues, have introduced a bill to expand the Federal Communication Commission 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window to allow Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian organizations the time they need to apply for spectrum licenses for unassigned spectrum over their own lands—a critical step to expanding broadband access in their communities. The Extending Broadband Tribal Priority Act of 2020 will require the FCC to open a new 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window that lasts at least 180 days, to commence no later than
Republican Senators Urge President Trump to Bolster Private-Sector Deployment of 5G
Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) led a letter with nearly 20 Republican colleagues to President Donald Trump applauding the administration’s successful efforts to empower the private sector to build multiple 5G networks. The senators also expressed concerns regarding a request for information that was released by the Department of Defense that contradicts the successful free-market strategy that has embraced 5G.
Oregon Members of Congress Demand Answers on Reports of DHS Spying on Portland Protesters' Phones (US Senate)
Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Mon, 09/28/2020 - 15:05Sen Shaheen Leads Bipartisan Effort to Prioritize Broadband Access for Small Businesses
Sen Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced that she’s reintroduced bipartisan legislation with Sens Kennedy (R-LA), Ernst (R-IA), Hirono (D-HI), Risch (R-ID) and Markey (D-MA) that would improve programs operated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address problems associated with a lack of broadband internet and other emerging information technology resources, and better assist small businesses in accessing and successfully adopting these tools. Specifically, the Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act would make the following improvements to the SBA
Sens Rosen, Hyde-Smith Introduce Jobs Bill to Support Reentering Mid-Career Workers, Close Gaps in STEM (US Senate)
Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Thu, 09/24/2020 - 15:09Republican Senators Underscore Significant Concerns to President Trump Regarding Oracle’s TikTok Deal (US Senate)
Submitted by benton on Wed, 09/16/2020 - 16:36Sen Hawley Calls for Cmte on Foreign Investment in the US to Reject TikTok Partnership, Violates President’s Executive Order (US Senate)
Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Mon, 09/14/2020 - 18:39Sens Bennet, King Build Support for BRIDGE Act to Deploy “Future-Proof” Broadband Nationwide (US Senate)
Submitted by benton on Mon, 09/14/2020 - 14:48Sen Warner Leads Colleagues in Letter Urging ISPs to Adopt New Policies to Support Wider Internet Access During COVID-19
Sen Mark Warner (D-VA) led 10 other senators in calling on the seven largest internet service providers (ISPs) to do their part to limit the economic and social disruption caused by COVID-19 and help ensure that children are able to meaningfully participate in their education. These letters come as unprecedented numbers of students rely on remote learning to kick off the fall semester due to the ongoing public health crisis.