What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
FCC Working with States to Facilitate High-Speed Broadband Deployment and Effective Pole Attachment Regulation
The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau reminded states that regulate pole attachments of their obligation, pursuant to section 224 of the Communications Act of 1934, to issue and make effective rules and regulations implementing their regulatory authority over pole attachments, and further emphasized that these states must actually regulate the rates, terms, and conditions of pole attachments and have established procedures for resolving pole access complaints. The pole attachment process is a key factor in ensuring Americans benefit from the increased broadband
The FCC Is Asking Whether to End E-Rate. Every School and Library Should Answer.
The Federal Communications Commission released a draft proposal that should alarm schools and libraries around the country. Tucked inside a long document is a direct question: should the E-Rate program be “limited or sunset”? When E-Rate began in the late 1990s, most schools and libraries had little or no internet access.
Policy on the AI Exponential
AI’s exponential progress has created an urgency and a pace of change that the policymaking process is ordinarily ill-equipped to handle. But it has also created a unique window of opportunity.
White House Reins In AI-Testing Unit as National-Security Concerns Grow
Trump administration officials have asked the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, a government artificial-intelligence testing unit, to stop issuing public reports, the latest signal that the White House is tightening control over AI models as national-security concerns increase. Administration officials including National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross have told the Center for AI Standards and Innovation to halt publicati
Artificial intelligence policy is rapidly evolving as lawmakers, agencies, and the White House grapple with questions surrounding safety, national security, critical infrastructure, and economic competitiveness. This briefing will provide Congressional staff with an overview of the current policy landscape, including the future of federal AI safety initiatives (and ones recently signed), the status legislation on the Hill, and how cybersecurity concerns are reshaping the AI debate.
White House, Hill relaunch effort to block state AI laws
The White House is negotiating a federal preemption of some state AI laws in exchange for its support of key tech policy priorities from the Hill. The talks are aiming to pair one of the tech industry's top priorities — overriding state AI laws — with legislation aimed at protecting kids online and combating deepfakes. Sen.
As Congress continues to debate whether and how to establish a national framework for consumer data privacy, the United States remains governed by a growing patchwork of state privacy laws and sector-specific regulations. While lawmakers have put forth several proposals—including the recently introduced SECURE Data Act—key questions around preemption, enforcement, data minimization, and the scope of consumer rights remain a barrier.
A dive into the many different intersections between AI, telecom infrastructure, and the energy grid. They will examine the implications of surging data center power consumption, the increasing role of AI-driven network optimization, and how these developments may shape infrastructure investment and deployment strategies across the telecom ecosystem.
The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) offers immense potential to drive innovation, productivity, and new forms of economic participation. Yet, without thoughtful oversight, AI can pose risks of deepening inequality. Past technological revolutions, from mechanization to digitalization, have produced both prosperity and dislocation, sometimes widening gaps in income, wealth, and opportunity. A key question that arises is: How can AI be deployed effectively to enhance economic mobility and ensure the benefits of AI systems are reaped widely?