FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Testifies on Spectrum, National Security, and Deregulation

FCC Oversight and Budget

• 💰 The FCC operates on a flat funding of $390.2 million, fully offset by regulatory fees, with excess revenue transferred to the Treasury.
• 📉 Significant savings of over $567 million have been identified through reduced contract spending, primarily on IT contracts.
• 💡 Efforts are underway to close over 2,000 dormant proceedings and eliminate wasteful spending to improve fiscal health.

Spectrum Policy and National Security

• 📡 The FCC is actively working to free up mid-band spectrum, including the C-band and 37 GHz band, to drive competition and lower consumer prices.
• 🚀 Auctioning spectrum is crucial for US leadership in wireless technology, national security, and generating substantial revenue for the Treasury.
• 🛡️ The RIP and Replace program, funded by Congress and Treasury loans repaid through spectrum auctions, aims to remove Chinese Communist Party-influenced equipment from US networks.
• 🌐 The FCC is enhancing national security by creating a council to counter foreign adversaries and investigating US operations of companies on the covered list.

Deregulation and Innovation

• ⚙️ A major deregulatory initiative, "delete, delete, delete," aims to remove outdated or unnecessary regulations, such as those pertaining to telegraph technology.
• 🏗️ Streamlining permitting processes and freeing up more spectrum are key to accelerating infrastructure builds and bridging the digital divide.
• 🛰️ The FCC is exploring alternatives to GPS, such as low-earth orbit satellites and fixed wireless, to enhance precision timing and national security.

Consumer Protection and Broadcast Media

• 📞 Efforts to combat illegal robocalls and bolster call blocking rules are ongoing, with a focus on developing better technological systems like STIR/SHAKEN.
• 📺 Reforming media ownership rules is a priority to empower local broadcasters and ensure they can compete effectively in the modern media landscape.
• 💻 The FCC is examining the impact of AI-generated impersonation scams and strengthening call authentication measures.

Workforce and Agency Operations

• 🏢 The FCC is encouraging a return to in-office work to foster collaboration and improve agency productivity.
• 🔒 Data privacy protections are being prioritized, with efforts to implement necessary technologies and address Inspector General recommendations.
• 🤝 The FCC is committed to working with Congress on issues such as Universal Service Fund reform and ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of programs like Lifeline.