Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., and two other Democratic senators praised NTIA Friday for issuing a conditional waiver of the broadband, equity, access and deployment program's letter of credit requirement (see 2311010040). Lujan and the other two senators, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Peter Welch of Vermont, previously wrote Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson urging them to consider alternatives to the LOC requirement for BEAD participation. “I'm glad that” Davidson “heeded our call to allow Tribal entities, municipalities, credit unions, and smaller broadband providers to fully participate in connecting families in New Mexico and across the country,” Lujan said: “This waiver authority relies on tested tools to ensure broadband providers are able to complete the work while also providing flexibility to better connect New Mexicans.”

Senate Commerce Committee member Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., is pressing FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to explain by Nov. 16 the legal justification for pursuing her proposal to largely reinstate the commission’s rescinded 2015 net neutrality rules and reclassification of broadband as a Communications Act Title II service (see 2310190020). Senate Commerce ranking member Ted Cruz of Texas and other congressional Republicans vigorously criticized Rosenworcel for considering the reboot but are holding back from pursuing legislation to stop her, for now (see 2310170071). “I will not stand idly by as the FCC under your leadership attempts to usurp Congress and claim Article I Branch legislative authority for yourself,” Schmitt said in a Thursday letter to Rosenworcel. “If you decide to move forward with this reckless action, expect my colleagues and I” on Senate Commerce “to call for your appearance before the committee to be held accountable. Though your recent decisions demonstrate that you clearly believe that Congress is a mere speedbump, I will defend the will of Missourians who elected me to the Senate to stand up against economy killing regulations such as the one you are proposing.” Schmitt is asking Rosenworcel to detail “the specific authority granted by Congress to support” the new net neutrality NPRM. He also wants her to “confirm that you believe” Title II reclassification “would be a regulation of ‘vast economic and political significance'” and “explain how the Commission is preparing for an almost certain legal challenge under the major questions doctrine” that the U.S. Supreme Court invoked in its 2022 West Virginia v. EPA ruling (see 2206300066).

Bipartisan legislation introduced Thursday would require federal agencies to incorporate the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI risk management framework into their AI-related operations. Introduced by Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., the Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act would establish guidelines for how the federal government uses AI technology. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., will introduce companion legislation in the House. Agencies aren’t currently required to use the framework to manage AI systems.

Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., is urging the FCC to “immediately address deficiencies” with its broadband coverage maps and related “standards that determine a serviced area, both of which neglect to consider the distinct challenges in providing” connectivity “in mountain communities across Colorado.” Inadequate broadband availability in those areas of the state “places a significant strain on my constituents and raises serious safety concerns,” Neguse said in a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel released Wednesday night. “Many of the areas referenced above appear to have full mobile broadband coverage, which is not reflective of the reality on the ground. The resulting inaccuracies are major impediments to unserved and underserved communities seeking federal and state resources specifically designed to address broadband gaps such as these.” NTIA recently said it’s giving the state $826.5 million via its broadband equity, access and deployment program (see 2310260066).

Bipartisan, bicameral legislation reintroduced Thursday would direct DOJ to launch tech-focused programs to combat social media-related domestic abuse (see 2212150077). Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., reintroduced the Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Act. DOJ’s pilot program would provide $2 million in grants for “clinics and other partnerships focused on addressing domestic violence and technology-enabled abuse.”

The Senate voted 82-15 Wednesday night to pass its FY 2024 Agriculture Department “minibus” appropriations bill via a substitute amendment to shell bill HR-4366 with higher funding for some department broadband programs than the House included in its FY24 USDA measure (HR-4368) but a substantial decrease in its ReConnect allocation compared with the lower chamber. The HR-4366 substitute amendment from Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, gives USDA $62.7 million for rural telemedicine and distance learning grants, up 9% from what the House proposed in HR-4368 (see 2309270046). HR-4366 would give ReConnect $98 million, down more than 174% from the House amount. It would give USDA $35 million for the Community Connect grants program, up 14 % from what the House seeks. The Senate voted 23-74 earlier in the week against an amendment from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., that sought substantial cuts to USDA’s connectivity programs compared to HR-4368: $43 million for rural telemedicine and distance learning grants, $67.3 million for ReConnect and $24 million for Community Connect. The Senate approved by voice an en bloc amendments package that included proposals from Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, aimed at Department of Veterans Affairs telemedicine funding. Rosen wants to allocate $5.18 billion for the VA “to sustain and increase telehealth capacity, including in rural and highly rural areas, and associated programmatic efforts.” Sullivan wants to direct the VA secretary to prioritize funding for telehealth services, including suicide prevention outreach.

Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., won't seek reelection for his sixth term in the House, he announced Wednesday. Buck was a key partner for Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., in advancing tech-related antitrust legislation. He and Cicilline, who retired in May, held the top seats on the House Antitrust Subcommittee. Buck was removed as top Republican when House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, took the gavel (see 2302020069). Buck in his announcement accused Republican leadership of “ignoring self-evident truths about the rule of law and limited government in exchange for self-serving lies.”

House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, are pressing Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and the city’s Office of Unified Communications for a briefing by Nov. 17 on recent 911 system problems, including long hold times and insufficient staffing (see 2310050062). The District of Columbia enacted additional 911 transparency legislation last week despite resistance from Bowser (see 2310270054). “Slow responses, missed calls, and staffing shortages have had tragic consequences and will continue to endanger lives unless remedied,” Latta and Rodgers said in a letter to Bowser released Tuesday. OUC “has a record of grave mistakes that have contributed to the deaths of adults, children, and animals. The OUC sent firefighters to the wrong address for a report of a newborn in cardiac arrest, canceled a call for service about a child unconscious in a hot car, and mischaracterized a handful of emergency calls.” D.C. “recently reached a staggering 200 homicides for this year, further emphasizing the importance of accurate and rapid emergency medical services (EMS) response,” the GOP lawmakers said. Bowser and OUC didn’t comment.

The U.S. needs to spend at least $32 billion annually in nondefense money to maintain its lead in AI innovation, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor Wednesday. Schumer offered key takeaways from his latest all-Senate AI forum, which he hosted Tuesday (see 2310240057). He noted the $32 billion estimate came from the National Security Commission on AI’s 2021 report. “Just about everybody in the room” at Tuesday’s forum “agreed that $32 billion is really a floor, not a ceiling,” said Schumer. “So, we're going to need -- if we want to stay No. 1 in AI, if we want to get our arms around it, if we want to make sure the good is maximized and the bad is minimized -- we're going to need significant federal dollars.”

The House's election Wednesday of Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., as speaker drew praise from broadcasters and other communications sector stakeholders. The chamber voted 220-209 along party lines for Johnson over Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. Johnson was the Republicans' fourth nominee after Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio and Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota (see 2310240039). Johnson, a former conservative radio host, is a past Republican Study Committee chairman. His “leadership will be vital as the House returns to work to confront the numerous challenges we face as a country,” said NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt in a statement. Johnson “has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the vital role broadcasters play in our communities. We look forward to continuing to work together to advance policies that support the lifeline service and trusted journalism broadcasters provide to the public.” Broadband “providers congratulate” Johnson “as we continue our work together to eliminate roadblocks to deployment so we can connect all communities as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter. Johnson participated in a June amicus brief from Republican lawmakers in support of the petitioners in Loper Bright v. Raimondo urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the contemporary Chevron deference doctrine (see 2307240050).