Political Stalemate Over Internet Subsidies
Spectrum Auction Reauthorization
Both Democrats and Republicans have proposed bills to reauthorize the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) spectrum auctions. These auctions allocate frequencies for wireless signals, and the proceeds often fund various programs. However, the Democratic bill aims to revive a defunct internet subsidy program, while the Republican version does not.
Cantwell’s Bill and Its Challenges
Senator Maria Cantwell’s (D-WA) bill seeks to reauthorize the FCC’s auction authority and fund programs like domestic chip manufacturing incentives. However, the bill has faced multiple delays in committee, with Cantwell blaming Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for obstructing the legislation.
“We had a chance to secure affordable broadband for millions of Americans, but Senator Cruz said ‘no,’” Cantwell said in a statement late Monday.
Cantwell emphasized that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is crucial for many Americans, including elderly people and military families, and should not be a partisan issue.
Cruz’s Alternative Proposal
Senator Ted Cruz, along with Senator John Thune (R-SD), has introduced his own spectrum legislation. This bill focuses on expanding commercial access to mid-band spectrum, commonly used for 5G, but does not include the ACP funding mechanism. Some large telecom companies prefer Cruz’s bill because it allows for exclusive licensing.
Kelly Cole, SVP of government affairs at CTIA, stated:
“[Cruz’s bill] is a better approach because it follows the historical precedent set by prior bipartisan legislation to extend the FCC’s auction authority.”
However, tech groups like the Internet Technology Industry Council (ITI), representing companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta, support Cantwell’s bill due to the programs it aims to fund.
Political Tensions and Future Prospects
Senator Cruz did not respond to requests for comment, but in a statement to Roll Call, he criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for prioritizing corporate interests over working Americans.
“In his shameless blame-game, Leader Schumer accidentally revealed what he and his party really think about taxpayers — that they are dupes who should be forced to give free internet to illegal aliens, millions to antisemitic universities, and billions to mega-corporations with no strings attached,” Cruz said in the statement to Roll Call.
The ongoing political disagreements make it unlikely that the ACP will be revived soon, especially with the presidential election approaching, making bipartisan action even more challenging.
2 Comments
What a mess—when will they get it right?
How long are we going to wait for this?