The FCC awarded more than $7 million in grants through the affordable connectivity program's Your Home, Your Internet and ACP Navigator pilot programs Wednesday (see 2303100034). "I’m very happy to see that the Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program will be making a difference in 23 communities in the United States," said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. The commission awarded about $5 million through the Your Home pilot and $2.5 million through the ACP Navigator pilot. Also Wednesday, commissioners adopted an order directing the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau to issue another notice of funding opportunity of up to $10 million for the national competitive outreach grant and the tribal competitive outreach grant programs.

NTIA is moving forward on its long-awaited national spectrum strategy, releasing a request for comments Wednesday that poses more than 60 questions on what that strategy should include. NTIA also scheduled two “listening sessions.” Comment deadlines are to come in a Federal Register notice, to be filed in NTIA-2023-0003.

The FCC granted nearly 200 applicants about $66 million in funding through the affordable connectivity outreach grant program Friday. The commission received 350 applications, said a news release. "These outreach grants will help us expand awareness in more communities, so we can continue the work to close the digital divide," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. The commission awarded $60 million through the national competitive outreach program and about $6 million through the tribal competitive outreach program. Awards for the Your Home, Your Internet and ACP Navigator Pilot programs will be given later. Also Friday, Rosenworcel circulated an order proposing another "more targeted" notice of funding opportunity for ACP outreach grants. "I’ve proposed another targeted grant opportunity to give even more outreach partners a chance to join us in our work to close the digital divide," Rosenworcel said.

The FCC wants comments by April 24, replies May 23, in docket 02-6 on ways to increase tribal and rural entities' participation in the E-rate program, said a notice for Thursday's Federal Register. Commissioners approved the item in February (see 2302160024).

Washington state lawmakers passed bills on broadband mapping, digital media literacy and digital right to repair. Colorado, Montana and Hawaii lawmakers supported bills on telecom support. The House voted 95-1 Saturday to send to the Senate HB-1746, which would require the state broadband office to develop a map by July 1, 2024 (see 2302150030). Also, the House voted 58-38 for the repair bill (HB-1392), which was opposed Jan. 30 by a trade group coalition including CTA, CTIA, TechNet and NetChoice. It goes to the other chamber. The Washington Senate voted 44-4 Friday to send to the House SB-5626 to require school curriculum on media literacy and digital citizenship. Voting on unanimous consent Friday in Colorado, the Senate passed a bill (HB-1051) to continue subsidies from Colorado's high-cost support mechanism (HCSM) to a dozen rural telecom providers until Sept. 1, 2024 (see 2302270072). The House passed the bill last month, so it can now go to the governor. The Montana House sent the Senate HB-804, which would require state, local or tribal oversight of private ISP broadband development. The Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 12-0 Friday for SB-1317 to appropriate state funding for matching requirements in federal broadband programs (see 2302160070). SB-1317 may get a Senate vote as soon as Tuesday.

Senate Commerce Committee leaders are still eyeing a vote on FCC nominee Gigi Sohn during mid-to-late March, but the situation remains in doubt amid questions about whether undecided panel Democrats Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Jon Tester of Montana will reach a decision on backing the embattled nominee, said lawmakers and others in interviews. Other Commerce Democrats remain strongly supportive of Sohn and believe she effectively countered GOP criticism during her Feb. 14 confirmation hearing (see 2302140077). Sohn’s Capitol Hill supporters believe it’s important that Senate Commerce swiftly advance her out of the committee, with some arguing any further delay could lead to her confirmation process stalling again as it did in 2021 and 2022 (see 2212300044).

Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., labeled FCC nominee Gigi Sohn Wednesday as potentially “the poster child for terrible presidential nominees,” citing what he considers deficiencies in her “character and fitness” for serving on the commission and her record as “a virulent and unapologetic partisan.” Public Knowledge and others sought to tie News Corp. to what they view as a smear campaign against Sohn. They cited News Corp. Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch’s acknowledgment in a recently released court deposition that several Fox News hosts spread disinformation about voter fraud after the 2020 presidential election.

FCC commissioners moved to assist survivors of domestic violence by approving an NPRM on access to affordable communications services, during the agency's open meeting Thursday (see 2301260050). lt also approved an item seeking comment on ways to further participation among tribal libraries in the E-rate program.

Library groups welcomed a draft FCC NPRM on barriers for tribal libraries seeking to participate in the E-rate program. Commissioners will consider the item during their meeting Thursday, after amending the definition of library last year to clarify tribal libraries' eligibility (see 2301260050).

The FCC appears close to releasing a Further NPRM on authorizing fixed-wireless and Wi-Fi outdoors, at standard power levels, in the 5.9 GHz band, industry officials said. More than 200 wireless ISPs and others have received FCC permission to use the band since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic under grants of special temporary authority (STA), but the Wireless ISP Association pressed the FCC to act on final rules.