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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a hearing titled Evaluating FirstNet: Performance, Accountability, and Reauthorization.

“FirstNet’s authorization expires at the beginning of next year, and it is this Committee’s duty to reauthorize the program before it expires,” said Chairman Hudson. “In the process, we should examine FirstNet’s activities since its creation 15 years ago and make any changes necessary to improve its performance. The future of public safety relies on safe resources like FirstNet.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02): “When Congress created the First Responder Network Authority, there was a clear mandate to have [a] public safety, preemptive network that would be used exclusively for first responders on the ground. [...] Our nation’s heroes and public servants who are the first to respond and the first people to put their lives on the line to protect Americans need robust communications. It was a very clear mandate to give our local communities the resources they need to respond to tragedies, and what we’ve seen since 2017, when the contract was awarded, has been a tremendous success story. We’ve also learned some lessons. Our job in Congress of enforcement and oversight of the program is critical and that includes contract transparency and maintaining accountability at all levels.”

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05): “On 9/11, I was driving. I was in the General Assembly in Ohio at the time. And of course, everything just collapsed. You’re trying to use your cell phone to find out what was going on. Everything was down. Everything. [...] For our first responders out there, we worried about that. […] And that’s why with FirstNet, we want to make sure that never, ever occurs again, because we want to make sure for the people that the first responders are out there trying to protect, but also to protect those first responders.”

Congressman Craig Goldman (TX-12): “Can you just take us through, anecdotally, what it was like before FirstNet was created? Any stories you may have? And then the improvements of FirstNet and where we are today?” Sherriff Adkinson: “I mean, obviously, 9/11, the impetus of this. But I can tell you I’ve been through Hurricane Katrina, and there was no ability to talk. When there was so much volume, […] you have everybody trying to call at one time. What happens now with priority and preemption is that those first responders now have access to this network. […] This ensures that our first responders can get out when nobody else can.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a hearing titled Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission.

“The FCC had an active 2025 that can be summed up in one word: deregulation,” said Chairman Hudson. “Under Chairman Carr, the FCC has taken significant steps to reduce barriers to broadband deployment, modernize outdated regulatory regimes, and delete obsolete rules.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05): “We’d have discussions when we talked about 4G, 5G, 6G, and I’d always ask this question: are we winning the race? Who’s our competitor out there? [...] So, are we winning this race out there when we talk about 6G?” Chairman Carr: “We are. We had fallen behind, in my view, during the Biden years. And now, we’ve hit the accelerator, and we are going to be leading the world once again.”

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03): “So many of these robocalls and some of these scam texts originate from overseas [...] Talk to me about your coordination efforts with your counterparts overseas and what we need to do here in Congress to strengthen that.” Chairman Carr: “We are pursuing, at the FCC, the idea that if you get a call on your phone from abroad, it shouldn’t necessarily, in my view, display a U.S.-based area code, because that could mislead someone to think that this is a call originating in the U.S. So, if you’re a company and you want to have a call center overseas, at least be truthful and honest with your customers. So, we’re looking at that. We’re looking at potentially doing standards for call centers to make sure that foreign call centers are compliant with our customer service regulations. So, a lot of effort was taken on that front.”

Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “During the first Trump administration, they unlocked additional 6-GHz bandwidth in 2020. When the first Trump administration made that available, nearly 70 countries followed our lead. Now China is trying to undermine those efforts in Europe. And we’re hearing good things out of the Trump administration defending that broadband. You’ve talked about the importance of Wi-Fi to American innovation. Can you explain why it's pivotal that America lead on Wi-Fi?” Commissioner Trusty: “Absolutely. As I mentioned a little earlier, I’ve been a proponent of an all-of-the-above approach to spectrum policy, where we accommodate a variety of users, use cases, and technologies. When you look at things like CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service), the United States has long been a leader in innovative uses of spectrum, and CBRS is a model for that. It accommodates the military, transportation, logistics, tracking, schools, hospitals, and much more. My job at the FCC is to ensure spectrum is being put to its highest and best use. Given all of these use cases, I think it emphasizes the meaningful benefit of CBRS and unlicensed spectrum.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), celebrated the passage of three bills advanced by the Committee on Energy and Commerce to make our grid more reliable, lower energy costs for hard-working families, and get America back to building infrastructure.

H.R. 3638, the Electric Supply Chain Act, introduced by Chairman Latta (OH-05), H.R. 3668, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, introduced by Chairman Hudson (NC-09), and H.R.3628, the State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act, introduced by Rep. Evans (CO-08), would help to provide essential information about our bulk power system, modernize the federal permitting process to expand our natural gas pipeline capacity, and ensure states are prioritizing the baseload power needed to keep the lights on.

Attributable to Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce:

“Since the beginning of this Congress, our Committee has fought to unleash the reliable and affordable energy that American families need,” said Chairman Guthrie. “These bills will help safeguard our energy security by bringing more baseload power online, strengthening our grid, and modernizing the federal permitting process. Thank you to Subcommittee Chairmen Latta and Hudson, and Congressman Evans, for your work on these vital pieces of legislation.”

Attributable to Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04), Speaker of the House of Representatives:

“House Republicans continue to implement a pro-growth agenda that puts hard hats back on American workers, gets shovels in the ground, and unleashes the economic potential our nation has been denied for years by Democrats’ waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Speaker Johnson. “Republicans are ending the era where unelected regulators and radical activist lawyers weaponize bureaucracy and misuse laws like the Clean Water Act to block economic development and restrict opportunity in America.

“For too long, Washington’s paralysis and partisan climate red tape has driven up costs, drawn-out reviews, and delayed construction of roads, pipelines, factories, and critical infrastructure. This week, House Republicans delivered commonsense deregulation and long-overdue reforms to repair a broken permitting system and remove barriers that have held America back. These bills codify more of President Trump’s executive orders and help unlock the full benefits and historic investments within our Working Families Tax Cuts. Republicans continue to advance pro-growth policies that expedite development, empower American industry, and create conditions for long-term competitiveness and prosperity.”

Attributable to Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy:

“Energy security is national security, and this bill brings us one step closer to unleashing American energy dominance,” said Chairman Latta. “The Electric Supply Chain Act will strengthen the reliability of our electric grid, secure our electric grid supply chains, and ensure we can power the artificial intelligence data centers of the future. Together, these efforts reinforce American-led energy production and security across the board. I’m grateful to my House colleagues for supporting this bill, and I urge the Senate to act on this critical legislation.”

Attributable to Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology:

“Delays in the construction of new natural gas pipelines drive up energy prices,” said Chairman Hudson. “My bill makes long-overdue modernizations to the permitting process by streamlining the regulatory authority of FERC. This makes sure the environment is protected, but no single state can arbitrarily block the construction of new pipelines.”

Attributable to Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08):

“For years Colorado’s ruling Democrats have pushed out-of-touch policies and burdensome regulations that have led to skyrocketing energy bills and increased financial strain, resulting in further mental and physical stress on hard-working families across the state,” said Congressman Evans. “This legislation puts Coloradans first by holding state regulatory entities like Colorado Public Utilities Commission accountable by new federal standards, to ensure they are focused on considering energy reliability and affordability. I’m proud to lead the charge on legislation that lowers costs, uplifts working-class Americans, and strengthens our nation's energy dominance.”

BACKGROUND:

H.R. 3638, the Electric Supply Chain Act – Rep. Latta (OH-05)

• The bill would direct the Department of Energy to conduct periodic assessments of supply chain constraints or vulnerabilities that could impact the bulk power system.
• The Biden-Harris Administration’s misguided energy agenda furthered our reliance on adversarial nations like China for critical materials and manufacturing for wind turbines, solar panels, and grid components that are needed for intermittent generation resources.
• As our nation’s electric system is under strain from premature retirements of baseload power and historic demand increases from manufacturing and technology, we must ensure our federal government and policy makers are equipped with the necessary tools to protect the affordability and reliability of the bulk power system.

H.R. 3668, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act – Rep. Hudson (NC-09)

• Under current law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is designated as the lead agency for coordinating necessary environmental reviews and associated federal authorizations for interstate natural gas pipelines.
• Unfortunately, pipeline infrastructure approvals are often delayed due to a lack of coordination—or inaction—among states and other federal agencies involved in the process. In 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects natural gas demand to reach an all-time. Now more than ever, it is critical we expand our natural gas pipeline capacity to meet that demand.
• This legislation modernizes the federal permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines by bolstering FERC’s role as the lead agency for environmental reviews as the coordinator of Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality reviews. This legislation will help lower energy costs, provide natural gas to power our economy, and strengthen our nation’s energy security.

H.R. 3628, the State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act – Rep. Evans (CO-08)

• This legislation would require state Public Utility Commissions to consider requirements for utilities to have sufficient generation from reliable and dispatchable energy sources, such as natural gas, nuclear, coal, and hydropower, over a 10-year period.
• The ongoing reliability crisis facing our nation stems from Democrat policies designed to drive out baseload generation in favor of intermittent wind and solar, harming our ability to onshore manufacturing and burdening households with higher costs.
• Running a grid on wind and solar is akin to paying for two parallel grids, in part, because these energy sources require backup resources when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. Residential ratepayers bear the financial burden of these choices.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a hearing titled Public Safety Communications in the United States. “Communications systems are crucial for our public safety organizations. Our first responders need reliable connections to be able to answer calls for help,” said Chairman Hudson. “Our public safety and law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to help us in our times of need, and we must make sure they have the best tools to do their jobs.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12) : “Last year, my district suffered catastrophic damage and loss from hurricane. This was a once in a hundred year hurricane. [...] In the weeks after this hurricane, we had disruptions, as I mentioned, and danger to both personal safety and property. I want to simply reinforce how vital it is that we guarantee our public safety officials can always be assured that their communications will not be disrupted, especially during times of emergency.” Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05):  “I recently met with the Crawford County Sheriff's Department in my district, where they demonstrated how they utilize FirstNet to ensure they have reliable communication to respond to emergencies. And as one of the Republicans and one of the early members who was here when we created the FirstNet program, I must say seeing FirstNet deployed through my district and the nation underscores how this true public-private partnership has been tremendously successful.” Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09): “Communication is more than convenient. It can be life saving. Today's hearing reminds us that success requires federal, state, and local partners all rowing in the same direction. In a crisis, no single system can carry the load. True resilience comes from interoperability, making sure radio, cellular, satellite and next generation 911 systems can connect seamlessly, so first responders can communicate and share information in real time.”

Court rules TikTok must divest from foreign adversary ownership Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) issued the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today upheld the law that requires TikTok to divest from foreign adversary ownership. “Today’s decision by the D.C. Circuit Court is a major win for the rule of law. From the beginning, Congress gave TikTok a very clear choice: Divest from your parent company—which is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party—and remain operational in the U.S. or side with the CCP and face the consequences. We are proud of the bipartisan work of the Energy and Commerce Committee to advance this legislation and protect the security of the American people. The United States will always stand up for our values and freedom, which is why the days of TikTok targeting, surveilling, and manipulating Americans are numbered." CLICK HERE to read a full timeline on how H.R. 7521 was signed into law. CLICK HERE to hear what experts and top voices said about the bill.  CLICK HERE to read Chair Rodgers House Floor speech supporting the passage of H.R. 7521. CLICK HERE to see what Energy and Commerce Committee members said following the bill’s overwhelming passage.

TikTok is a threat to our children’s well-being and our national security by design Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) released the following statement after new reporting confirms that TikTok executives know its platform is harmful for children. “Reporting confirms that TikTok executives know what Congress has known for years: TikTok is a threat to our children’s well-being and our national security by design. It’s unsurprising that TikTok would attempt to hide the truth from parents and users about the platform’s intentionally addictive nature, especially considering TikTok has refused to be honest about its ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This is why the Energy and Commerce Committee acted swiftly to pass the bipartisan Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which is now law in the United States. The days of TikTok further manipulating and exploiting its users are numbered.”  CLICK HERE to read more about H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.   H.R. 7521 gives TikTok a clear choice : Separate from its parent company ByteDance—which is beholden to the CCP—and remain operational in the United States, or side with the CCP and face the consequences. 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), as well as Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) and Ranking Member Doris Matsui (D-CA),  sent letter s to AT&T , Verizon , and Lumen demanding answers and requesting a briefing following breaches of their communications networks by hackers tied to the Chinese government. Reporting from the  Wall Street Journal  revealed the cyberattack was focused on intelligence collection and may have accessed U.S. wiretapping requests.  KEY LETTER QUOTE :   “We are concerned by the recent reports of a massive breach of AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen’s communications networks by Chinese hackers. These types of breaches are increasing in frequency and severity, and there is a growing concern regarding the cybersecurity vulnerabilities embedded in U.S. telecommunications networks. The Committee needs to understand better how this incident occurred and what steps your company is taking to prevent future service disruptions and secure your customers’ data.” BACKGROUND :   On October 5th,  The Wall Street Journal  reported U.S. broadband providers were breached by a Chinese government-tied hacker organization. The attack appears to be geared towards intelligence collection, and Chinese hackers potentially accessed vulnerable information, including court-authorized network wiretapping requests and internet traffic. AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen are among the U.S. broadband providers breached. According to the  Wall Street Journal , “The widespread compromise is considered a potentially catastrophic security breach and was carried out by a sophisticated Chinese hacking group dubbed Salt Typhoon.” CLICK HERE to read the letter to AT&T. CLICK HERE to read the letter to Verizon. CLICK HERE to read the letter to Lumen.

Soros-linked fund to acquire more than 200 local radio stations weeks before election Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) led 40 of her Republican colleagues in demanding answers from the Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding her recent decision to fast-track a media deal allowing the Fund for Policy Reform, a group aligned with Democratic mega-donor George Soros, to buy over 200 radio stations just weeks before the 2024 election. With a party line vote of 3-2, the decision at the Commission level by the Democratic members of the FCC to temporarily waive the required national security review and allow excessive foreign ownership of American radio stations is deeply disturbing. KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “It is highly concerning that the FCC did not follow regular order for a transaction of this magnitude. Licensees and investors need certainty that the FCC will follow its rules and procedures when approving transactions so that the broadcast industry can have the resources it needs to continue serving the public.”  BACKGROUND: Audacy, Inc., a radio broadcasting group, which owns more than 200 radio-station licenses, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.  Audacy’s filings revealed that a George Soros-backed group known as the Fund for Policy Reform had acquired at least 40 percent of Audacy’s debt.   Audacy estimated that, upon emerging from bankruptcy, 25 percent or more of its stock would be indirectly foreign owned, which triggers FCC review.   This review process requires national security agencies to review the transaction and offer any policy or national security concerns.   On September 30, 2024, the FCC released an Order granting a temporary waiver of this review process, delaying a national security review until after the bankruptcy process is complete and allowing foreign control of a significant number of radio stations across the entire United States, weeks before a national election. CLICK HERE to read Breitbart's exclusive coverage. CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing titled “From Introduction to Implementation: A BEAD Program Progress Report.”  CHALLENGES TO BEAD IMPLEMENTATION “Almost three years have passed since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) became law.   “This legislation appropriated $42.5 billion to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to deploy broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved homes and businesses.   “While this investment in broadband infrastructure to rural communities is a worthy cause, I am concerned with the implementation of the BEAD program.   “First, this program was created outside of regular order, and therefore lacks appropriate provisions to safeguard these taxpayer dollars.   “There was no discussion of whether $42 billion is the right amount to connect every American or debate on how this program should be administered.   “The infrastructure bill was also a missed opportunity to enact meaningful permitting reform that would have broken down barriers to deployment and stretched this federal funding further.   “I am further concerned with how the Biden-Harris Administration is running the program.”  NTIA’S CONFUSING REQUIREMENTS   “NTIA continues to add requirements that are contrary to Congressional intent and make this program less attractive and more expensive to the broadband providers needed to deploy to unserved and underserved communities.   “These actions include adopting price controls for certain broadband plans, preferring certain technologies over others, and adding burdensome and unnecessary workforce and climate requirements.   “We have raised these concerns with NTIA at numerous oversight hearings and in letters to the agency. I fear that these burdensome requirements are delaying approval of state initial proposals and will jeopardize the success of the grant program.  “I am also concerned about impending workforce and supply chain shortages.   “Getting the workers, bucket trucks, and other materials needed to deploy broadband will be challenging with 56 states and territories chasing the same supply chain and workforce at the same time.   “This will lead to shortages and higher prices that will eat up money and time needed for deployment, undermining the success of this program.”  IMPORTANT CORRECTIONS FROM NTIA   “Fortunately, NTIA has listened to some of our feedback.   “Two weeks ago, NTIA sought comment on how states can use alternative technologies, such as unlicensed fixed wireless and low-earth orbit satellites, to serve our most remote areas.   “Although these technologies should have been permitted from the start, I am pleased that NTIA has finally realized that it will take all available technologies to bridge the digital divide. I hope that NTIA makes similar changes to address the other concerns we have raised.   “Before I conclude, I want to mention the Universal Service Fund working group and efforts to revive the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), as I know my colleagues on the other side will likely raise it.   “I am committed to finding a long-term solution to address broadband affordability. “However, ACP must be reformed to ensure that it is targeted towards those who truly need the subsidy to pay for broadband, and it must have a sustainable funding source. “Relying solely on stopgap funding leads to uncertainty for those who rely on the program.   “I am actively working on a solution with my colleagues in the bipartisan, bicameral Universal Service Fund Working Group, along with the Ranking Member of this subcommittee. “Time is running short this Congress, but I hope we can reach an agreement on this important issue.   “Closing the digital divide is a bipartisan priority and significant federal resources have been dedicated to this effort.   “Today’s hearing is an opportunity to discuss the NTIA’s administration of the BEAD program from the perspective of those on the ground—the states and broadband providers that will do the work of deploying broadband our unserved and underserved communities.”