Expectations Tempered for Trump Infrastructure Proposal Before Monday Release

House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., acknowledges the push by some industry officials and local governments for dedicated broadband funding in an infrastructure package and that some federal funding beyond what the FCC already is offering may be needed. “We'll see” what the Trump administration proposes, he told us, noting the $20 billion in allocated funding for infrastructure projects included in the budget deal Trump signed Friday. That deal included a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 23 (see 1802090025).

Notwithstanding funding, the focus of broadband language in an infrastructure bill “really gets back to siting obstacles, especially for 5G” deployments, Walden said. The House Communications Subcommittee is working through how to proceed on a group of 25 broadband-related bills it reviewed during a January hearing, said subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. Many of the bills were part of a series House Communications Republicans introduced in January to influence the tone of a broadband title, but Democratic measures are also under consideration (see 1801110058, 1801160048, 1801170055, 1801180058 and 1801190048). Blackburn cited the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act (HR-4800), from Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif, to mandate “dig once” policies that require inclusion of broadband conduit during construction of road projects that get federal money.

“I'd imagine we'd want to do a hearing” to examine the broadband language in Trump's infrastructure proposal, though discussion may also filter into a planned Friday FCC hearing that appears likely to touch on a range of telecom policy issues (see 1802090025), Walden said. The timeline for markup of broadband legislation already on House Commerce's docket is unclear, he said. “Our goal is always to be ready to move forward as soon as possible.” Democrats are encouraged House Communications Republicans are actively considering some of their bills as they construct a broadband title, “but it's not like there's been a process so far,” a Democratic House aide said. “It's not like there's been sit-down negotiations or anything like that.”

Eshoo and other Democratic lawmakers remain adamant in seeking dedicated broadband funding in an omnibus infrastructure bill, with some warning the issue could be critical in their decision on whether to support final legislation. “If things continue the way they've been going … if there's not dedicated funding, then we're going to have a problem,” a Democratic aide said. “I think there's a real sense among the Democrats and some Republicans that if you want to get broadband further into rural areas, streamlining regulations alone is not going to get you there,” a Democratic lobbyist said. Full details on the White House's proposal are needed to assess its chances with Democrats, and “lack of dedicated funding is going to make it very difficult” for that caucus to support it, “and very tough for a lot of Republicans, too,” the lobbyist said.

Industry supporters of including dedicated broadband funding in Trump's infrastructure package remain hopeful but with low expectations their efforts wooing the White House will be successful. “We've received mixed signals,” one communications sector lobbyist said. “I don't think there's a definitive answer yet” about the funding aspects of Trump's proposal, but even if the Democrats get their wish, “it's still going to be a huge challenge to move this thing” on Capitol Hill, an industry lobbyist said.

Congress is “running out of time” to deal with a legislative package of the scope that Trump is expected to propose, a telecom lobbyist said. The fall schedule is shortened because of the midterm election campaign.

Capitol Hill Notebook

The House Communications Subcommittee set details for its planned Friday FCC budget and oversight hearing (see 1802050025). All five commissioners will testify “on their priorities for the coming year, including broadband deployment, the future of 5G, FCC reauthorization legislation” and other issues, the House Commerce Committee said. The hearing, on the 50th anniversary of the first U.S. 911 call, will focus partially on the Jan. 13 false ballistic missile alert in Hawaii and other public safety communications issues, as expected (see 1801170050), the committee said. The hearing “builds on this subcommittee’s ongoing oversight efforts and our commitment to a transparent, accountable FCC,” said subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., in the release. “Fifty years after the first ever 911 call was placed, we are constantly reminded the importance of fast and reliable emergency communication. The American people also need the peace of mind to know that the disaster alerts they receive are legitimate. Our hearing will be a timely forum.” The hearing begins at 9 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.

The House passed the Senate-approved Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-96) and the Senate-amended version of the Kari's Law Act (HR-582) on voice votes Friday, as expected (see 1802080050). HR-582, which addresses direct 911 dialing, would go into effect two years after the date of enactment. The House had been expected to clear the bills Thursday but waited until Friday because of Senate delays passing a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 23 (see 1802090025). "While much has changed since the first 9-1-1 call was placed nearly fifty years ago, fast and reliable emergency communication, no matter where you are, is as important as ever," said House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., and House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., in a joint statement. "When an emergency strikes, Kari’s Law will help give every person in America the certainty that dialing 9-1-1 means 9-1-1, even if you’re calling from a hotel or office phone." S-96 "ensures that Americans living in rural and remote areas will share the type of high-quality phone service many people in major cities take for granted," Walden and Blackburn said. Final passage of S-96 “is a critical step on the long road to resolving the call quality and reliability issues that have plagued rural Americans for years,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “We hope implementation of this measure will bring greater transparency to the call routing marketplace and sends a bipartisan message about the importance of on-going efforts to solve call completion problems.” Dropped calls to rural areas "have decreased over the years and this legislation is a commonsense step forward to help further ensure that rural calls are completed,” said USTelecom President Jonathan Spalter. “We’re grateful ... that Congress, with passage of this legislation, recognizes the urgency and importance of solving the problem,” said WTA Senior Vice President-Government and Industry Affairs Derrick Owens.

President Donald Trump signed budget legislation Friday that included a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 23, ending a government shutdown that began when Congress failed to pass the legislation before an existing CR expired at midnight Thursday (see 1802080054). The Senate passed 71-28 its version of the CR and budget deal shortly before 2 a.m. The House 240-186 cleared the Senate CR deal after 5 a.m. The deal included a carve-out of $20 billion for infrastructure projects, including rural broadband (see 1802070051). The FCC released its latest shutdown plan Thursday evening.