The House passed semiconductor-funding legislation 222-210 on a largely party-line vote Friday. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and lawmakers are looking ahead to conference talks to combine elements of the newly House-passed America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521) and Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260) (see 2202010001).

Lumos/NorthState adds from USTelecom Mike Saperstein as head-government affairs and general counsel; Nora Mitchell from Segra becomes corporate controller; Saperstein succeeds Mary McDermott, who retires ... NTIA names Common Sense Media Washington Director April McClain-Delaney deputy assistant secretary, Commerce-communications and information; and former Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke as special representative for broadband.

The FCC and the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services sent letters to all 574 tribal leaders raising awareness about E-rate as part of a new partnership aimed at expanding broadband to tribal libraries, said a news release Wednesday. Tribal libraries' access was "often difficult" because of how the rules were written, said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, noting that a January order amending the program's definition of a tribal library will let them apply during the current funding application window (see 2201270030). "This recent rule change will have a significant impact on the ability of tribal libraries to help connect their patrons," the letter said, asking tribal leaders to share information about the program.

Senate Appropriations Commerce Subcommittee members pressed Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on how NTIA will administer the $48 billion under its control through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, during a hearing Tuesday (see 2201210083). "We need the FCC to produce its maps before we can even run the formula to figure out how much money each state has," Raimondo told members.

The House Rules Committee was still considering several telecom- and tech-focused amendments Tuesday to the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521), for a potential floor vote on the measure later this week. The measure mirrors some elements of the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260), including $52 billion in subsidies to encourage U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing (see 2201260062). Many proposed amendments aim to make changes to the chips language.

The House Rules Committee will consider several telecom- and tech-focused amendments to the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521) Tuesday, for a potential floor vote on the measure later this week. The measure mirrors some elements of the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260), including $52 billion in subsidies to encourage U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing (see 2201260062). Many proposed amendments aim to make changes to the chips language.

FCC commissioners unanimously approved an NPRM on adoption of broadband consumer labels, as directed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (see 2201260049), during their Thursday meeting. They also approved an order amending the definition of tribal libraries to clarify their eligibility for E-rate, the revocation of China Unicom Americas' Section 214 authority to operate in the U.S., and an order on reconsideration upholding a fine against a Texas company for signal jamming.

A draft FCC NPRM to adopt consumer broadband labels is expected to be unanimously approved during Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting, aides told us. The item is likely to take up the bulk of the meeting as most agenda items were adopted in advance (see 2201260016).

Conexon withdrew its petition for waiver to default on certain Rural Digital Opportunity Phase I auction bids it provisionally won in Colorado on tribal lands, said a letter Tuesday in docket 19-126 (see 2106090065). The FCC's "inaction is unnecessarily hurting rural communities ... desperately in need of high-speed broadband services," Conexon said. The company met with Colorado Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, Wireline Bureau staff, and an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Friday to discuss its pending petition for eligible telecom carrier designation. Previous funding concerns by tribes due to Conexon's award appear "to have been rendered moot" because the tribes were able to obtain support to construct broadband networks.

The California Public Utilities Commission may vote Feb. 24 on setting up a $50 million grant program to provide California Advanced Services Fund technical assistance to local agencies and tribal governments, said a proposed decision posted Friday in docket R.20-08-021. The agency already had a program only for tribes; the new program would expand eligibility to local governments and add more reimbursable activities.