Republican senators distanced themselves from far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who's the subject of widespread social media censorship and an FCC lawsuit (see 1808100025) and 1808150047). Some lawmakers said Thursday they don’t pay any attention to the InfoWars creator or were unfamiliar with his work.

Republican senators distanced themselves from far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who's the subject of widespread social media censorship and an FCC lawsuit (see 1808100025) and 1808150047). Some lawmakers said Thursday they don’t pay any attention to the InfoWars creator or were unfamiliar with his work.

Lawmakers and communications sector officials lauded Senate passage Thursday of six long-stalled telecom bills, including the Mobile Now Act (S-19) spectrum bill. The Senate approved the legislation as part of a deal to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr as FCC commissioners (see 1708030060). The other telecom bills approved were the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act (S-88), Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-96), Kari’s Law Act (S-123), Spoofing Prevention Act (S-134) and FCC Consolidated Reporting Act (S-174). The bills’ passage “brings us a step closer to increasing access to spectrum that powers our 21st century tech economy, improving the quality and reliability of phone calls in rural communities, removing barriers to dialing 911 in emergencies, and cutting inefficiencies in federal bureaucracy,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. CTA President Gary Shapiro urged the House to “swiftly pass” S-19, saying it would “create better mobile broadband for us all, spurring developments in cellular 5G technologies and securing our wireless future.” S-19 “will help ensure more spectrum is made available,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. The bill “recognizes the importance of deploying wireless broadband services in rural areas and endeavors to streamline deployment challenges, particularly on federal lands, which unfortunately have oftentimes plagued competitive carriers.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., praised passage of S-123, which addresses direct dialing to 911. S-123 and House companion HR-582, which passed the House in January (see 1701230071), mean "Americans will one day be able to call 911 and reach first responders without having to dial an access code,” said Pai. S-123 “would ensure families can call for the help they need,” said Fischer, who was a main sponsor of that bill, S-88 and S-134.

Lawmakers and communications sector officials lauded Senate passage Thursday of six long-stalled telecom bills, including the Mobile Now Act (S-19) spectrum bill. The Senate approved the legislation as part of a deal to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr as FCC commissioners (see 1708030060). The other telecom bills approved were the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act (S-88), Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-96), Kari’s Law Act (S-123), Spoofing Prevention Act (S-134) and FCC Consolidated Reporting Act (S-174). The bills’ passage “brings us a step closer to increasing access to spectrum that powers our 21st century tech economy, improving the quality and reliability of phone calls in rural communities, removing barriers to dialing 911 in emergencies, and cutting inefficiencies in federal bureaucracy,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. CTA President Gary Shapiro urged the House to “swiftly pass” S-19, saying it would “create better mobile broadband for us all, spurring developments in cellular 5G technologies and securing our wireless future.” S-19 “will help ensure more spectrum is made available,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. The bill “recognizes the importance of deploying wireless broadband services in rural areas and endeavors to streamline deployment challenges, particularly on federal lands, which unfortunately have oftentimes plagued competitive carriers.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., praised passage of S-123, which addresses direct dialing to 911. S-123 and House companion HR-582, which passed the House in January (see 1701230071), mean "Americans will one day be able to call 911 and reach first responders without having to dial an access code,” said Pai. S-123 “would ensure families can call for the help they need,” said Fischer, who was a main sponsor of that bill, S-88 and S-134.

Lawmakers and communications sector officials lauded Senate passage Thursday of six long-stalled telecom bills, including the Mobile Now Act (S-19) spectrum bill. The Senate approved the legislation as part of a deal to confirm Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr as FCC commissioners (see 1708030060). The other telecom bills approved were the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act (S-88), Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (S-96), Kari’s Law Act (S-123), Spoofing Prevention Act (S-134) and FCC Consolidated Reporting Act (S-174). The bills’ passage “brings us a step closer to increasing access to spectrum that powers our 21st century tech economy, improving the quality and reliability of phone calls in rural communities, removing barriers to dialing 911 in emergencies, and cutting inefficiencies in federal bureaucracy,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. CTA President Gary Shapiro urged the House to “swiftly pass” S-19, saying it would “create better mobile broadband for us all, spurring developments in cellular 5G technologies and securing our wireless future.” S-19 “will help ensure more spectrum is made available,” said Competitive Carriers Association President Steve Berry. The bill “recognizes the importance of deploying wireless broadband services in rural areas and endeavors to streamline deployment challenges, particularly on federal lands, which unfortunately have oftentimes plagued competitive carriers.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., praised passage of S-123, which addresses direct dialing to 911. S-123 and House companion HR-582, which passed the House in January (see 1701230071), mean "Americans will one day be able to call 911 and reach first responders without having to dial an access code,” said Pai. S-123 “would ensure families can call for the help they need,” said Fischer, who was a main sponsor of that bill, S-88 and S-134.

Witnesses were divided on the merits of federal pre-emption for telecom equipment siting challenges, during a Wednesday Senate Commerce Committee broadband deployment hearing. Lawmakers held the infrastructure hearing with an eye toward the Trump administration’s priority of a bigger infrastructure package, which is widely expected to address broadband funding. There's no White House proposal released so far.

Witnesses were divided on the merits of federal pre-emption for telecom equipment siting challenges, during a Wednesday Senate Commerce Committee broadband deployment hearing. Lawmakers held the infrastructure hearing with an eye toward the Trump administration’s priority of a bigger infrastructure package, which is widely expected to address broadband funding. There's no White House proposal released so far.

Any grand infrastructure plan should go beyond public-private partnerships and tax credits and find ways to incorporate broadband, senators and witnesses said Wednesday during a Commerce Committee hearing. It followed another call Tuesday from President Donald Trump that Congress act on infrastructure. Senators repeatedly questioned what a broadband component should look like.

Any grand infrastructure plan should go beyond public-private partnerships and tax credits and find ways to incorporate broadband, senators and witnesses said Wednesday during a Commerce Committee hearing. It followed another call Tuesday from President Donald Trump that Congress act on infrastructure. Senators repeatedly questioned what a broadband component should look like.

Congress may need to pass legislation to encourage federal agencies to relinquish their spectrum, commerce secretary nominee Wilbur Ross told the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday during his confirmation hearing. It was a first direct public comment on the topic by any officials affiliated with the incoming Trump administration. Spectrum was a frequent topic during the hearing, which lasted nearly four hours.