Oversight Hearing of the Federal Communications Commission
House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
2025-05-21
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Source: Congress.gov
Participants
Transcript
the federal thank you the federal uh oversight of the federal communications commission members will have five legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the record i now recognize myself for opening statement i'd like to thank chairman carr for being here today and for his leadership at the fcc federal communications commission was created for the purpose of expanding access to radio television and other communication services for all americans Methods of communication have changed a lot since the FCC was founded more than 90 years ago. Decades of technological advancements have made long-distance communications much more affordable. In 2023, the total number of wireless connections within the United States reached almost 558 million, or more than 1.6 connections per American. The FCC continues to play an important role in expanding access to new technologies and making communications services more affordable for all Americans. Since fiscal year 2023, the FCC has received flat funding of $390.2 million. Each year, the Commission's appropriation is fully offset by the collection of regulatory fees paid by license holders. Not only is the FCC's appropriation fully offset, but the Commission routinely transfers any excess revenue to the Treasury for deficit reduction. The FCC has become a leader in securing our nation's telecommunications infrastructure from national security threats. The Rip and Replace program has provided essential funding to help service providers replace equipment manufactured by companies under the influence of Chinese Communist Party.
Congress has authorized close to $5 billion for these efforts. I look forward to hearing more about that important program and the progress that continues to be made. I'm also encouraged by Chairman Carr's efforts to identify and remove unnecessary regulations that inhibit innovation and economic growth. Since March of this year, the FCC has been collecting feedback from the public on regulatory changes that will facilitate and encourage investment in modernizing networks, developing infrastructure, and promoting competition. In addition to its deregulation efforts, the FCC has taken concrete steps to streamline agency processes and eliminate wasteful spending. Just last week, the Commission announced more than $567 million in expected savings from reduced contract spending. I am interested to learn more about these efforts, the steps Chairman Carr is going to take to improve the agency's fiscal health, and your priorities more generally to the Federal Communications Commission and how this committee can assist in achieving those goals. I now recognize the ranking member for his opening remarks. Thank you very much. A timely appearance.
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Unknown (SPEAKER_01)
cordial as we were, but I'm very concerned. When Donald Trump spoke before the Congress in March, he said this, I've stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America. It's back, he said. Now, he'd also said during the campaign to his supporters, I am your retribution. You may remember that quote. That rang in my ears and gave me great concern. The FCC's actions the past few months make it clear just how relevant those comments were. What was once an independent and partial agency, not always devoted to keeping Americans connected, has become, in my view, to some degree, the speech police. another cudgel in the President's culture war. Since Trump took office, the FCC has gone after private corporations over their DEI practices. Very frankly, my view is that may be a practice that he can impose on the federal government, but is not a practice that he can impose nor should he impose on the private sector, whatever the views we may hold. The agency, in my opinion, has also targeted NPR, PBS, NBC, ABC, and CBS, and other networks apparently who are perceived unfavorably to the president and to his policies. The First Amendment, of course, is not intended to protect the president from the press. It is intended to protect the president, excuse me, the press against the government. Nor was the FCC established to act in the president's interest, but rather in the public's interest.
Now, more than ever, the American people are counting on the FCC to focus on its mission under law. Something we discussed in my office, however, was when he removed FTC commissioners, he did it because, quoting, or trying to quote, that the actions of those commissioners were incompatible with the priorities of the administration. Communications technologies that fall under the FCC's purview are fundamental to everything in modern life. They shape our commerce, our education, our national security, our health care, and our elections. In an increasingly digital world, the FCC needs to ensure that we don't leave that behind. That means expanding – oh, this is inconvenient. That means expanding affordable, reliable access to the internet and other crucial technology in both rural and urban areas. I represent urban and rural areas.
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