CTIA CEO Ajit Pai urged congressional leaders Thursday against reaching a deal on a “final version” of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act that includes Section 1564 from the Senate-passed version of the measure (S-2296), which would give the DOD and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman authority to essentially veto commercial use of the 3.1-3.45 and 7.4-8.4 GHz bands. The Senate in October passed S-2296 with the military veto intact, despite a bid from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to jettison that provision (see 2510070037). House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C., and several other industry groups have also opposed the veto language (see 2510090048). The House-passed NDAA (HR-3838) doesn’t include a similar military veto.
Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and other witnesses at a Public Knowledge event Wednesday called for Congress to end what they see as actions by Chairman Brendan Carr's commission infringing media's First Amendment rights. PK CEO Chris Lewis framed the event as the first in an anticipated series of “people’s oversight” hearings on the FCC and other federal agencies in response to what he sees as Congress’ failure to counter Trump administration actions against the president's perceived enemies.
Glen Smith, President Donald Trump’s nominee for agriculture undersecretary for rural development, told Senate Agriculture Committee members Wednesday that he will make it a priority to review USDA’s broadband programs in response to Republican lawmakers’ concerns about the scope of federal connectivity efforts leading to unnecessary funding overlaps. Meanwhile, panel Democrats pressed Smith on strengthening USDA’s ReConnect program, citing GOP proposals to end or reduce its funding.
Cyndi Lauper, Barry Manilow and 14 other recording artists urged congressional leaders Tuesday against passing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-979/S-315) unless it moves in tandem with the American Music Fairness Act (HR-861/S-326). HR-979/S-315 would require the Department of Transportation to mandate that future automobiles include AM radio technology, mostly affecting electric vehicles. The House Commerce Committee advanced HR-979 in September (see 2509170068), while the Senate Commerce Committee advanced the slightly different S-315 in February.
The House Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology names Michael Essington, ex-EchoStar, chief counsel … Telecom, media and technology lawyer Doug Brandon will retire from Akin Gump at year-end and become partner emeritus.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., said Monday he has hired Michael Essington, EchoStar's former senior manager of public affairs, as the Communications Subcommittee’s new chief counsel. Essington led EchoStar's lobbying of “Capitol Hill Republicans and the Trump Administration,” House Commerce said. He held a similar role at Dish Network before EchoStar’s 2023 purchase of the company. Essington was also previously general counsel for Senate Commerce Committee member Todd Young, R-Ind., working for him on “commerce, telecom, and media issues,” House Commerce said. Before that, he was an aide to former House Commerce member and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., and was a lawyer at Husch Blackwell.
Comcast, Google and T-Mobile are among at least 10 tech and telecom companies that the White House said Thursday have donated to President Donald Trump’s proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom. Trump on Wednesday estimated the ballroom’s construction will cost $300 million, up from the administration’s initial projection of $200 million. Other donating companies include Amazon, Apple, HP, Facebook parent Meta, Microsoft, Micron and Palantir. The family of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is also a donor, the White House said.
More consolidation among local broadcast stations is a must for survival, but beyond a change in ownership, it will also bring a change in how stations operate, station group owners said Wednesday at NAB’s annual New York City show. They also said the ATSC 3.0 transition needs a deadline for exiting 1.0 that the FCC will support.
The U.S. Hispanic Business Council raised concerns Friday about Section 1564 of the Senate-passed FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (S-2296), which allows DOD and the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman to essentially veto commercial use of the 3.1-3.45 and 7.4-8.4 GHz bands (see 2510090048). The Senate voted 77-20 earlier this month to pass S-2296 with the Section 1564 military spectrum veto language intact, despite opposition from Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas (see 2510070037). The House-passed FY26 NDAA (HR-3838) doesn’t include similar language.
Deborah Collier, vice president of policy and government affairs for Citizens Against Government Waste, urged House lawmakers involved in reaching a conference compromise on the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-3838) to strongly oppose language in the Senate's alternative bill (S-2296) that gives Pentagon leaders authority to essentially veto commercial use of the 3.1-3.45 and 7.4-8.4 GHz bands (see 2510090048). HR-3838 doesn’t include similar language. The Senate voted 77-20 earlier this month to pass S-2296 with the Section 1564 military spectrum veto language intact, despite opposition from Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas (see 2510070037).