News

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) today announced a hearing titled “Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.”  “NTIA plays a pivotal role in strengthening American communications networks. From improving broadband deployment, federal spectrum management, Internet governance, and cybersecurity, to understanding how new technologies, like AI, can strengthen our communications infrastructure, said Chairs Rodgers and Latta. "The Energy and Commerce Committee is leading to ensure NTIA has the right tools to accomplish these important tasks. We look forward to hearing from Administrator Davidson to make sure America maintains its dominance in the communications sector.”  Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled “Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.”  WHAT: Communications and Technology Subcommittee oversight hearing on NTIA’s role in advancing American communications leadership.  DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 2023  TIME: 10:30 AM ET  LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Noah Jackson at Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov . 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) announced a subcommittee hearing titled “Oversight of President Biden’s Broadband Takeover.”  The Chairs released the following statement:  “The Energy and Commerce Committee has a responsibility to the American people to ensure the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is being a good steward of taxpayer dollars, faithfully following Congressional intent, and fostering a regulatory environment that allows our communications networks to offer faster speeds and lower costs. Unfortunately, President Biden’s FCC is attempting a government takeover of broadband by imposing burdensome new regulations that will harm people’s access to broadband, increase costs, and slow deployment," said Chair Rodgers and Chair Latta . “We will hold Chair Rosenworcel and the other FCC commissioners accountable for their partisan efforts to micro-manage Americans’ broadband services. The FCC must return to its mission of strengthening U.S. leadership in next-generation technologies.”  Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled: “Oversight of President Biden’s Broadband Takeover.”   WHAT: Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing on oversight of the Federal Communications Commission.  DATE: Thursday, November 30, 2023  TIME: 10:30 AM ET  LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Noah Jackson at Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov . 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Vice Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA), and 23 other Republican Committee members sent a letter to TikTok demanding answers regarding how the Chinese Communist Party is using the app as a tool to surveil and manipulate Americans.  From the letter: “ Disturbingly, millions of TikTok users have recently viewed videos glorifying Osama Bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America,’ which attempts to justify his horrific murder of 3,000 Americans in the September 11, 2001, attacks while also perpetuating ‘the antisemitic trope claiming the Jews ‘control your policies, media and economy.’” Key excerpts from exclusive reporting by FOX NEWS : “ A group of House Republicans is demanding more transparency from TikTok about how content is amplified and how much insight China has into those processes as accusations mount against the social platform that it’s boosting antisemitic videos. “‘On October 7, the Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas, brutally attacked Israel and killed more than 1,400 people. Since this terrorist attack, disinformation related to the conflict has run rampant on your platform, stoking antisemitism, support, and sympathy for Hamas,’ they wrote to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. “The letter is being led by Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga. It comes just days after TikTok was under fire for facilitating a surge in viral videos expressing support for Usama bin Laden’s 2002 'Letter to America' written in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.” […] “National security hawks have been wary of TikTok’s connection to China, with its parent company ByteDance being based in Beijing.” […] “The lawmakers are demanding to know how many employees at TikTok have connections to ByteDance, how the platform screens for misinformation and anti-Israel content amid the conflict with Hamas, and how its algorithms are curated, among other queries. “‘Given that roughly half of TikTok’s U.S. user base is under 25 years old, American youth are being exposed to extremely violent and disturbing images and videos," they wrote. "This deluge of pro-Hamas content is driving hateful antisemitic rhetoric and violent protests on campuses across the country. The CCP has already co-opted your platform, and it seems TikTok and TikTok’s employees are resigned to becoming a mouthpiece for antisemites, terrorists, and propaganda.’” ICYMI: In October, Chair Rodgers called on multiple tech companies, including TikTok, to brief the Energy and Commerce Committee on their moderation policies regarding the spread of illegal content posted by Hamas. CLICK HERE to read the full letter. CLICK HERE to read the Fox News story on the letter.

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) released a statement following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) vote to approve digital discrimination rules:   "The digital discrimination rules approved by the FCC are just another step toward Biden's broadband take over. This move puts onerous requirements on our nation's broadband providers and will lead to government bureaucrats micromanaging Americans' Internet access. It’s time for the Biden administration to end this effort to enact more government controls, which will ultimately lead to higher costs and worse services for Americans." 

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing titled “Leveraging AI to Enhance American Communications.” UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF AI   “Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for being here to discuss the importance of artificial intelligence—otherwise known as AI—in the communications and technology sector.   “But AI is more than just a thing of fiction. “The uses of AI technology spans across many sectors. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of our lives across a range of industries, many of which are within the jurisdiction of this subcommittee. “There is no one-size-fits-all approach to regulating this technology, nor should there be. To unlock the full potential of AI, we must establish foundational protection for the data that powers many of these new AI tools by enacting a comprehensive data privacy standard in the United States. “As we integrate AI into various aspects of our lives, it is crucial to ensure that its deployment is guided by ethical principles and American values.” BOLSTERING AMERICANS’ CONNECTIVITY “In the communications sector, artificial intelligence applications are used to optimize the quality and reliability of service, fight the scourge of robocalls, detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents, and ensure a safe online experience for kids. “AI applications are used to provide faster, more reliable Internet service. Whether Americans are on a telehealth visit, working from home, streaming their favorite shows, or playing video games, intelligent networks now and in the future will perform better by using large models to predict where traffic capacity will be needed and when. “Network operators currently take advantage of digitized networks to more rapidly detect outages, use detailed analytics to determine the cause of the outage, and eventually, get Americans back online faster. "This automation takes place not only in wired networks, but also in wireless networks, where AI applications are used to optimize the use of the airwaves to provide the best user experience." STRENGTHENING OUR SECURITY “For cybersecurity, some AI models utilize algorithms to detect incoming threats and learn from networks’ previous behavior to establish a framework for prevention in the future. “AI utilization in content moderation has become a significant factor in deterring violent content and other material that violates the rules of a platform. AI’s actions are key to creating a safer and more interactive platforms for users. “In the same way humans are not perfect, AI is not perfect, either. Because humans design AI algorithms, AI systems may contain unintentional bias, which unfortunately could lead to discrimination. "The key to ensuring the safety of algorithms used by Big Tech is to make sure the algorithms are trained and developed responsibly with greater transparency for the user. “These are just a few of the nearly unlimited uses of AI technology. Whether you are in your home or on a busy road, AI will assist in providing a more seamless transition from one service to the next, ensuring continuous connectivity. “Despite these technological advances, this new frontier doesn’t come without challenges, which is why we must ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI. “In today’s hearing, we will discuss some of the many use cases and benefits of AI. We will also examine why U.S. leadership on AI is imperative for economic and national security.”

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing titled “Leveraging AI to Enhance American Communications.” “AI has the potential to usher in a new era of discovery and innovation.   “This technology can be used to solve problems we once thought unsolvable.  “It offers advancements that could empower people, expand worker productivity, create new jobs, and grow the economy.  “Its potential is vast, unlocking possibilities across every sector of the economy.  “That said, AI also raises serious concerns about how bad actors can exploit this technology and abuse it.  “As AI gets deployed, we must think about appropriate measures to ensure accountability.  “The best way to start this effort is by laying the groundwork to protect people’s information with a national data privacy standard, which provides greater transparency and puts people back in control over the collection and use of their personal information.   “It is critical that America—not China—is the one addressing these challenges and leading to both AI’s development and deployment and ensuring people’s data privacy is protected.”   ENHANCING TELECOM NETWORKS   “Access to the Internet has become an integral part of life for many Americans.   “Broadband has unleashed new tools that have improved our education system, health care, and our ability to stay in touch with family and friends.  “It’s strengthened our economy, empowered entrepreneurs, researchers, and allowed people to connect around the world in ways they never could before.   “Providers are constantly working to increase the capacity on their networks and deploy more network infrastructure.  “AI and machine learning can monitor networks to determine what bandwidth is available at a specific time.    “This could significantly improve the efficiency of our communications infrastructure without any disruption for people using the services, enhancing the user experience.”   CYBERSECURITY   “AI’s ability to engage in pattern recognition extends far beyond human capability, allowing for advanced detection of cybersecurity threats and malicious activity.   “Unfortunately, AI models can also be used to enhance hacking capabilities, such as deepfake-enabled phishing attacks.   “The best way to address this malicious use of AI may in fact be to leverage AI tools to detect, prevent, and respond to threats.  “America’s networks are under constant attack from our adversaries and other bad actors.  “Cyberwarfare is an ever-changing landscape and requires that we utilize all technologies available to protect our critical infrastructure.”  STOPPING ILLEGAL CONTENT   “Similarly, AI can be a helpful tool to combat illegal and violent content online, like recent content posted by Hamas, which they are using to recruit, spread propaganda, potentially livestream the murder and torture of hostages, and organize more terrorist activities.   “That said, while this may be an efficient tool to combat illegal content, we need transparency and accountability from Big Tech to ensure these new tools aren’t being abused to moderate content in a way that infringes on American’s right to free speech.”  ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBLE DEPLOYMENT AND INNOVATION   “Protecting the innovative nature of AI while encouraging responsible development and deployment is key to unlocking its full potential.   “This is best done with a light-touch, market-driven approach that provides clear rules and guidance for industry.   “The Biden administration’s recent AI Executive Order fell short of this objective.  “While I agree with the President that the best way to cementing American AI leadership is by first enacting a comprehensive data privacy and security law, I am concerned the order itself places unnecessary and duplicative regulatory burdens that could hinder the development of this critical technology.     “To address the challenges of AI and take advantage of the benefits, the administration needs to work with Congress to strike the right balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring responsible development and deployment.   “AI and machine learning are here to stay. Its potential is both exciting and disruptive.   “AI could vastly enhance people’s lives, especially by improving communications network performance and internet speeds.  “But with the benefits come risks, especially cyber risks and the abuse of people’s personal data.   “The best way to mitigate many of these risks and cement America’s leadership in AI is by enacting comprehensive data privacy and security legislation.   “I look forward to the discussion today and to hearing from our witnesses about the vast use cases for artificial technology in the communications and technology space.” 

Washington, D.C. – House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following joint statement today after the White House unveiled its national spectrum strategy for coordinating spectrum use and positioning the United States to dominate in the development of 5G and future 6G technology:  “Spectrum is one of our most important and valuable resources, impacting everything from our military’s radar capabilities to the mobile broadband and GPS systems Americans rely on every day. Making spectrum available for commercial use will help strengthen our economy, our national security, and ensure that we out-compete China. Today’s announcement is a welcome step toward enhancing the way we use and manage this critical resource and sets the stage for strengthening America’s technological leadership. It is particularly meaningful that this plan reaffirms the joint leadership of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in managing our nation’s spectrum.  “Extending the FCC’s spectrum auction authority remains vital to providing certainty to the public and securing our global competitive edge—including against countries like China that do not share our fundamental values of democracy, free speech, and human rights. We will continue to work with our colleagues in the House and Senate to get our nation back on track to establish a strong, sustainable spectrum policy that benefits consumers and advances U.S. interests at home and around the world.” 

President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping this week. China does not share America's values of celebrating life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. This serves as a reminder that we MUST secure our competitive edge against China to win the future. Here’s how Energy and Commerce and the People’s House is leading to bolster American leadership, promote freedom, and beat China:  Enhancing Our Security: H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act , unleashes American energy production, reduces emissions, strengthens our national security, and secures our supply chains. Affordable, reliable, clean energy is key to America’s security. (Passed the People’s House with bipartisan support) H.R. 22, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act , prevents President Biden from further jeopardizing our national and energy security by selling off our Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to the Chinese Communist Party. (Passed the People’s House with bipartisan support) H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act , prevents President Biden from abusing the SPR through politically motivated, “non-emergency” sales. (Passed the People’s House with bipartisan support) H.R 3565, the Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act of 2023 , extends spectrum auction authority and improves our national security by providing more than $3 billion to remove Huawei and ZTE from our networks. ( Passed out of Committee with bipartisan support) Promoting Freedom: E&C is leading on solutions to combat China’s growing influence in the global economy and reduce America's reliance on Chinese supply chains that use slave labor. We passed bills out of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee to support American manufacturing, secure our critical supply chains, and cement our leadership in deploying emerging technologies. E&C is investigating how data brokers surveil the American people and sell their data and sensitive information to anyone, including the Chinese Communist Party.  At our hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Chew , E&C exposed why Tik Tok must be banned to protect our national and personal security. Americans deserve to know how TikTok jeopardizes their privacy and manipulates what they see to benefit the Chinese Communist Party.  H.R. 750, the CAUTION Act , provides greater transparency over what mobile applications, like TikTok, have been banned for use on federal government devices. (Passed out of Committee)  H.R. 784, the Internet Application I.D. Act , and H.R. 742, the TELL Act , provide Americans with greater transparency over what information of theirs is accessible by the Chinese Communist Party. ( Passed out of Committee)  H.R. 3557, the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2023 , helps close the digital divide, encourages faster deployment of 5G technology, and strengthens American communications leadership by streamlining broadband permitting and expediting deployment. (Passed out of Committee)  Putting American Jobs and Innovation First:   E&C is leading to protect people’s data privacy and security, and ensure America leads in developing the standards and deploying artificial intelligence with our values—not China’s—built in. Our latest hearing series explores the role of AI across every sector of the economy, including healthcare, telecommunications, emerging technologies, and energy.   H.R. 813, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2023 , helps identify barriers that prevent investment from our allies into American companies and secures American leadership for emerging technologies. (Passed the People’s House with bipartisan support)  H.R. 1338, the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act , promotes American innovation in the satellite communications marketplace. The bill will streamline the regulatory process for satellite communications networks to provide new and better communications service to Americans and improve American competitiveness. (Passed out of Committee)  H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act , stops President Biden from dictating the vehicles Americas can drive. Forcing Americans to switch to electric vehicles plays right into China’s scheme to control our automotive future. (Passed the People’s House) 

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) announced a subcommittee hearing titled “Leveraging AI to Enhance American Communications.” This is the third in the committee’s hearings series exploring the role of Artificial Intelligence across every sector of the economy, including healthcare, telecommunications, emerging technologies, and energy. The Chairs released the following statement: “In the communications sector, AI could enhance the performance of next-generation networks and vastly improve internet speeds. But with the benefits of AI come potential risks, like enabling cybercriminals to develop potent threats to our critical communications infrastructure. American leadership is vital to ensure the responsible deployment of AI, protect people’s privacy, and unleash the full potential of this technology," said Chairs Rodgers and Johnson. “We look forward to this subcommittee hearing, where members will hear from industry representatives and other stakeholders about how networks are using AI tools, the risks associated with those tools, and how AI technology can be used to improve our communications systems.” Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled: “Leveraging AI to Enhance American Communications.” WHAT: Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing on the use of artificial intelligence technology on America’s communications networks. DATE: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chair. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at https://energycommerce.house.gov/ . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Noah Jackson at Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Sean Kelly at Sean.Kelly@mail.house.gov . Note: The Energy and Commerce Committee to date has also held hearings exploring how to unlock AI’s potential in the energy sector and how safeguarding Americans’ data with a national privacy standard is a necessary first step to ensuring AI is used responsibly.