In this edition of the ICORE Blog we discuss recent events In Washington, D.C. related to the telecommunications industry. Please note the following:
* On March 5, 2025, a Bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (House) entitled the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (Act). H.R. 1873 would amend the Internal Revenue Code to exempt certain federal broadband deployment funding from being considered taxable income. The Act states that gross income shall not include any qualified broadband grant made for the purposes of broadband deployment. The Act specifically mentions the BEAD program, the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant program, and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant program as being qualified broadband grant programs. This Bill is similar to legislation introduced in the Senate on February 24, 2025.
* On April 8, 2025, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce introduced several Bills dealing with telecommunications:
* H.R. 2399 entitled the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025 would amend Part 54 of the FCC’s Rules to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal
service funding.
* H.R. 2482 entitled the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Reauthorization Act of 2025 reauthorizes the NTIA and also includes other administrative
changes.
* H.R. 2444 entitled Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2025 addresses the establishment of a critical supply chain and crisis response program in the Department of Commerce.
* The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing on April 9, 2025 regarding President Trump’s nomination of Olivia Trusty as an FCC Commissioner. Trusty said she will work with Congress and the Administration to expand access to affordable high speed broadband service, protect consumers from illegal robocalls, strengthen the security of our telecommunications networks, and restore America’s leadership in next-generation communications technologies.
* Also on April 9, 2025, a Bill was introduced in the House entitled the Bridging the Broadband Gap Act of 2025. This Bill addresses the provision of broadband service in low income, and unserved, or underserved areas. It provides for the use of BEAD funding for the provision of vouchers to eligible recipients to cover 50% of the amount charged by a provider of satellite or fixed wireless broadband service towards the purchase of broadband customer premise equipment or the monthly lease or rental of customer premise equipment. In addition the Bill provides a monthly voucher, not to exceed $30, towards the monthly fee charged by a provider of satellite or fixed wireless broadband service.
* On April 10, 2025, a Bill entitled the Proper Leadership to Align Networks (PLAN) for Broadband Act was introduced in the House. The PLAN is based on a Government Accountability Office report that found that federal broadband efforts are fragmented and overlapping. The report recommended that a national broadband strategy is needed to avoid duplication and ensure that funds are reaching the truly unserved and underserved areas of the country. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would require the Administration to develop and implement a national strategy to close the digital divide.
It’s clear from the discussion above that the telecommunications sector and specifically the provision of broadband service is receiving a good deal of attention in Congress. We will continue to provide updates on these pieces of legislation as additional information becomes available.
