Technology
As Co-Chair of the High Tech Caucus and a member of the Energy & Commerce Communications & Technology Subcommittee, Congresswoman Matsui is working to address the pressing tech issues of today and tomorrow while increasing the accessibility and affordability of communications services.<br />\
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Almost one third of Americans have not adopted broadband at home – and the cost of subscribing to service is most often the highest barrier preventing non-adopters from fully participating in our digital economy. As a result, these Americans are at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to employment, education, and other opportunities. The Congresswoman authored the first piece of federal legislation to address this problem by expanding the Lifeline program, a program that has helped low income Americans get telephone service since President Reagan’s Administration, to cover broadband access. <br />\
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Congresswoman Matsui has also been a champion of net neutrality and ensuring our nation has a free and open Internet. She has authored legislation that would prohibit so-called Internet fast lanes from harming consumers, small businesses and innovators.<br />\
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During her time in Congress, the Congresswoman has continuously advocated for policies that allow our wireless economy to grow. As Congresswoman Matsui likes to say, the airwaves, known as spectrum, are the invisible infrastructure of our mobile society. Congresswoman Matsui champions an all of the above approach to improve the efficiency of how we use this finite resource – everything from creating new opportunities for WiFi to improving the way the federal government uses spectrum. For example, the Federal Spectrum Incentive Act of 2015 will ensure consumers can make wireless connections on their smartphones, tablets, and devices now and into the future – and give federal agencies the opportunity to improve their missions. The legislation won unanimous approval from the House Energy & Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee in 2015.<br />\
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<h2>Accomplishments</h2>\
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<li>Fought for the adoption of strong net neutrality rules by the FCC, so that every American, innovator, and small business has equal access to an open Internet. Congresswoman Matsui’s Online Competition and Consumer Choice Act, a bill to prevent fast and slow lanes online, was incorporated into the FCC’s final net neutrality decision.</li>\
<li>Congresswoman Matsui’s Broadband Adoption Act (H.R. 2638) to make Internet access more affordable for low-income families through the FCC’s Lifeline Program was included in House Democrats’ Make It in America Plan. In 2016 the FCC adopted Congresswoman Matsui’s recommendation to expand the Lifeline program to support broadband.<br />\
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<h2>Legislation</h2>\
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<li>H.R. 1888, Federal Spectrum Incentive Act</li>\
<li>H.R. 1576 Innovation Corps Act of 2017</li>\
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Ranking Member Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Chair Bob Latta (R-OH), sent a letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson and Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Information Officer John Sherman, requesting the agencies outline their process for the studies of the Lower 3 GHz band as required by the National Spectrum Strategy.
Congressional Republican leaders are determined to advance a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval to undo the FCC’s digital discrimination order (H.J.Res. 107) despite widespread acknowledgment the measure faces long odds of making it through the majority-Democratic Senate and an all-but-certain veto from President Joe Biden. GOP leaders’ intent in pursuing H.J.Res. 107 appears to be to bolster legal challenges of the digital discrimination order, officials and lobbyists told us. House Communications Subcommittee member Rep.
House Communications Subcommittee members were universally positive about the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhancing Networks Act (HR-1513) and four other communications network security bills during a Thursday hearing. House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and other lawmakers used the hearing to continue the drumbeat for Congress to allocate an additional $3.08 billion to close a funding shortfall for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, as expected (see 2402140055).
The House Energy & Commerce panel dives into network security today as lawmakers raise alarms over Chinese tech increasingly woven into U.S. networks. But efforts to root out equipment from foreign adversaries like Huawei and ZTE are hitting roadblocks, with telecoms decrying Congress’ failure to fully fund a Federal Communications Commission rip-and-replace program.
A familiar boogeyman will be the main target of today’s House Energy & Commerce subcommittee hearing: China. The chamber’s subcommittee on communications and technology will review a slew of bills meant to bolster the nation’s telecom network from foreign adversaries, providing an opportunity for lawmakers to garner support for their own policy proposals. Readers can expect lots of talk on programs like rip-and-replace and the lack of funding Congress has allocated to those efforts.
An ESPN/Warner Bros. Discover/Fox partnership creating a sports streaming platform is a further nail in the coffin of the traditional video programming bundle, video industry experts say. GlobalData analyst Tammy Parker said Tuesday it is "a blockbuster deal that will further decimate the traditional US pay-TV sector."
As live sports content continues what many see as an inexorable move to streaming, traditional pay TV is left in an increasingly tighter spot and the future of such deals is in limbo, media and sports industry experts tell us. The future of sports league and team deals with broadcasters is seen as more stable. House Communications Subcommittee members at a Wednesday hearing repeatedly highlighted sports programming's move from traditional pay TV to streaming services, at times expressing frustration with rising prices and fragmented access to games.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, CongresswomanDoris Matsui (CA-07),Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, released new, updated state-by-state data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on theSecure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (SCRP).
US lawmakers say they’re fighting back against the rise of artificial intelligence-powered scams and fraud with new legislation to overhaul the nation’s robocall rules.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, CongresswomanDoris Matsui (CA-07),Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, introduced the Stop Scams and Spam Act, legislation that would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop a tracking system to monitor and publish the top 100 illegal robocall and robotext campaigns.