Senate Commerce Committee Confirmation Hearing for Asst. Commerce Secretary Nominee Arielle Roth

Nominee's Qualifications and Background

• 💡 Arielle Roth is nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, leading the NTIA and advising the President on telecommunications policy.
• 🎯 She is recognized for her indefatigable work ethic and dedication to public service, having served as the telecommunications policy director for the committee.
• 🔑 Her experience includes work at the Hudson Institute, the FCC as an advisor, and on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, making her ideally suited to lead NTIA.

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

• 🚀 The BEAD program, with $42 billion allocated, aims to connect Americans to high-speed internet.
• ⚠️ Concerns were raised that the previous administration imposed partisan requirements like climate resiliency over actual connectivity, leading to zero connections to date.
• ✅ Roth commits to working to remove extraneous requirements and refocus the BEAD program on its core mission of connecting Americans efficiently and cost-effectively.
• 🧩 The program should be tech-neutral, utilizing all available solutions like fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite, rather than favoring one technology.

Spectrum Management and National Security

• ⚡ NTIA plays a crucial role in managing federal spectrum use, vital for National Defense, weather forecasting, and transportation.
• 🛰️ Spectrum management is vital for economic success and national security, with a need to balance commercial use and critical government functions.
• ⚠️ A key concern is avoiding the race to commercialize spectrum without proper studies, risking interference with aviation safety (e.g., C-band auction without FAA coordination).
• 🛡️ Roth emphasizes that National Security must be paramount in all spectrum discussions and is optimistic about finding paths forward to advance technology leadership while protecting security.

Protecting Children Online and Digital Equity

• 🧒 As a mother of five, Roth understands the challenges of protecting children from excessive screen time and online harms.
• 💻 She is committed to supporting efforts to address these challenges for parents and children.
• 🌐 The Digital Equity Act aims to ensure broadband is affordable and that Americans have the resources and skills to connect, with a focus on low-income individuals, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.

International Competitiveness and Supply Chain Security

• 🇨🇳 The US faces a global technology race against China, necessitating efficient spectrum policy and universal access to digital opportunities.
• 🔒 Supply chain security is crucial for winning this race, and NTIA's Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund is important for combating foreign adversaries.
• 🤝 Collaboration with international bodies and ensuring US positions reflect US interests are essential for global technology leadership.