On Thursday, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel made a plea to members of Congress asking for $6 billion in emergency aid to continue funding internet subsidies for low-income households. Rosenworcel also asked for a nearly 15 percent increase to the agency’s operations budget for 2025, which would add 1,600 employees, improve a mapping system for broadband access, and bolster satellite technology. This hike would increase the FCC’s budget next year to $448 million.
The FCC’s commissioner, Brendan Carr, expressed his disapproval of both requests, calling them financially irresponsible. Carr argued that about 85 percent of the 23 million people who receive subsidies under the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) would still have internet access at home if they did not take the federal money. Carr believes the focus should be on reform, targeting those who would otherwise lack service, rightsizing the effort, and significantly increasing program safeguards.
Dave Joyce, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government that held the hearing, also criticized the funding requests. Joyce said, “such actions are not one that an independent agency like this one should be focused on.”
The ACP, launched in late 2021 when it was allocated $14.2 billion by Congress, has provided discounted internet service to about 23 million U.S. residents. The fund will be exhausted in less than two weeks. Rosenworcel said that most ACP recipients live in rural areas and that this is a program that helps everyone. Rosenworcel said, “This is a program that will help close the digital divide.”
Rosenworcel defended her proposed budget, saying that the FCC has been understaffed since the mid-1990s. With ongoing cybersecurity threats, there is an urgent need for more engineers and technicians within the agency. The agency wants to accelerate progress in combating telephone scams.
Completing the nationwide broadband map is crucial because it will show precisely where broadband infrastructure improvements are made and how much they’ll cost. Under that initiative, the FCC provided vendors with new equipment when they turned in products made by Huawei or ZTE. Rosenworcel said that the program, like the ACP, will rely on emergency funding requests.
The FCC chairwoman responded that the Rip and Replace program would cost about $3 billion more than initially projected, but she still considers it essential. Rosenworcel said, “We need to take insecure equipment from China out of our nation’s networks”.
The committee discussed several other matters related to FCC operations and the budget request, including cybersecurity, the prioritization of new utility poles in low-income communities, telehealth funding and regulations, and emergency 911 center upgrades.
Ms. Rosenworcel explained that E-911 and its interoperability with the 988 emergency mental health service are a major concern because dispatch centers are locally funded and controlled. In many parts of the country, emergency telecommunication systems still struggle with different area codes and cell phone calls because the equipment is outdated.
The subcommittee noted that relief for cash-strapped county-level 911 dispatch centers might be in sight under future legislation that would recognize emergency communications call center staff as emergency responders, making localities eligible for national public safety grants.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has requested an emergency $6 billion aid in funding internet subsidies for low-income households, along with a 15 percent increase to the agency’s operations budget for 2025. However, the FCC’s commissioner, Brendan Carr, opposes both requests, calling them financially irresponsible. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has provided discounted internet service to about 23 million U.S. residents and will be exhausted in less than two weeks. Rosenworcel also defended her proposed budget, saying that the FCC has been understaffed since the mid-1990s.
Completing the nationwide broadband map is crucial because it will show precisely where broadband infrastructure improvements are made and how much they’ll cost. The Rip and Replace program would cost about $3 billion more than initially projected. Future legislation could recognize emergency communications call center staff as emergency responders, making localities eligible for national public safety grants
