News

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement regarding the release of America’s AI Action Plan, which focuses on safeguarding U.S. global leadership in artificial intelligence.   “Today’s announcement is a major victory in our work to win the race for AI. The future of American global competitiveness, innovation, and economic growth depends on strong investments and a unified approach that promotes AI development and deployment at scale. President Trump’s ‘AI Action Plan’ is an important step toward harnessing the full power of American innovation and aligns with our Committee’s work to unleash infrastructure development and advanced manufacturing, promote a national AI framework, and safeguard Americans where existing protections fall short,” said Chairman Guthrie. “Throughout this Congress, we’ve heard a clear message that to win the race for AI, we need to bring more baseload energy sources online, including natural gas, coal, hydropower, and nuclear. We cannot cede leadership in the development and deployment of AI technology to the Chinese Communist Party, which does not share our values. “We look forward to continuing our work with President Trump to ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in AI development.”   ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF):  "We are glad to see the Supreme Court uphold the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund, which is critical for expanding reliable internet access to rural and low-income Americans, schools, libraries, and rural health centers,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson. “The Committee on Energy and Commerce can now turn its attention to reforming the USF so it can continue to provide every American with access to the connectivity they need to participate in the 21st century economy.”   Background:   Chairman Hudson is a member of the Universal Service Fund Working Group .

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, issued the following statement after President Trump delayed enforcement of the TikTok divestiture requirement: “We remain committed to seeing TikTok divested from the Chinese Communist Party-affiliated ByteDance. Our enemies will use any tool at their disposal to surveil and potentially manipulate the American people,”   said Chairmen Guthrie, Bilirakis, and Hudson.   “We remain committed to protecting the privacy and security of the American public and are hopeful the Administration will continue working to facilitate a deal that brings TikTok into compliance with the law soon.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement after Olivia Trusty was confirmed by the Senate to serve as Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC): “The FCC plays a crucial role in securing our communications networks from bad actors and promoting fast, reliable, and affordable broadband access. Olivia Trusty has a wealth of experience, including time spent as an Energy and Commerce staffer, and she will be an asset to the Commission." said Chairman Guthrie. "I look forward to working with her and the Commission to connect every American to reliable internet access and promote American technological leadership for the decades to come.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging the administration to quickly remove burdensome regulations that have stopped the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program from connecting any American to reliable broadband. KEY EXCERPT: “The Biden administration added unnecessary and burdensome requirements that made participation in the program more expensive and less attractive to broadband providers. These include labor and climate change requirements, as well as rate regulation of low-cost broadband plans that were unlawfully imposed.  “To address these issues, we introduced the Streamlining Program Efficiency and Expanding Deployment (SPEED) for BEAD Act, which outlines necessary reforms to BEAD. We appreciate that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick is undertaking a review of the program and urge any reforms to be enacted as soon as possible.” BACKGROUND: On March 5, 2025,  Congressman Hudson introduced  the SPEED for BEAD Act to remove harmful regulations that have prevented the $42 billion program from laying even a single inch of fiber to support rural Americans. Also on March 5, 2025, the Committee on Energy and Commerce  held a hearing  to discuss the BEAD program titled  Fixing Biden’s Broadband Blunder. CLICK HERE to read the full letter. ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a hearing titled AI in the Everyday: Current Applications and Future Frontiers in Communications and Technology “Our adversaries will stop at nothing to undermine our leadership in technological advancement and utilize AI to threaten our way of life. We must continue to innovate and develop to prevent that from happening,” said Chairman Hudson. “Competition in AI is a global issue, and it is imperative that the United States maintains its leadership.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12) : “My district experienced significant telecommunications disruptions from Hurricane Helene. It took weeks in some areas for phone services to return to normal. Could artificial intelligence help mitigate these disruptions in the future, and if so how?” Mr. Pickering: “The answer is yes. The AI application, whether it is in our fiber, wireless, or in any of our networks, is able to both manage and optimize redundancy, resiliency, and be able to get systems back up and running and identify where issues are much more quickly than in the past.” Congressman Jay Obernotle (CA-23):  “[One] assertion that’s been made is that this [AI moratorium] is a giveaway to big tech. Is that something you would agree with or disagree with?” Mr. Pickering: “As an advocate for competitors for 40 years, for the new entrants, the new technology, the upstarts, the innovators, the entrepreneurs, it’s the exact opposite . If you’re a small startup, you cannot afford the patchwork of 50 states.” Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09): “Artificial intelligence is no longer a far-off concept. It’s already changing how we live, work, and communicate, but its success still depends on the basics: fast, reliable, broadband infrastructure, access to spectrum, cybersecurity, and reliable energy. For rural communities like in Southern Indiana, like mine and across the country, those fundamentals are not always guaranteed. That’s why I’m fighting to close the digital divide and make sure that those small communities aren’t left behind.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled AI in the Everyday: Current Application and Future Frontiers in Communications and Technology. Subcommittee Chairman Hudson's opening statement as prepared for delivery:   “Good morning, and welcome to today’s subcommittee hearing on examining artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is being used in communications and technology industries. “AI is a hot topic right now, not just in this country, but all over the globe. Although we know that AI has been used in different industries for many years, recent advancements in large language models, machine learning, and generative AI have pushed this technology into the spotlight, capturing public attention and transforming how we live and work.  “The applications for this new technology are widespread and we are continuing to find new ways AI can be used to benefit Americans’ lives.  “Whether you know it or not, almost everyone uses AI in our daily lives. Like when you use ChatGPT to create a shopping list or asking Siri for directions, but even more specifically, the rideshare you called is using AI to find the fastest route based on traffic patterns. “Or how your cell phone provider uses AI to reduce harmful spectrum interference to your phone, ensuring there is no lapse in service.  “The entertainment industry uses AI to predict what types of content viewers may enjoy and drives decisions on when that content should be produced. It is being used to develop content and enhance the editing process.  “Even the National Football League uses AI to create the perfect schedule to limit unnecessary travel for players, create an even playing field for teams, and maximize fan accessibility for the biggest games.  “As demand for AI grows, we must consider what physical infrastructure will be required to continue advanced AI development.  “Storage capacity and energy consumption demands at data centers are expected to skyrocket by 2030 due to increased AI use. As data capacity increases, we will need robust fiber optic and wireless connectivity to ensure powerful new AI systems can reach their fullest potential.  “But the United States is not the only country developing advanced AI. China recently released its DeepSeek AI model, which showed their advancements.  “Our adversaries will stop at nothing to undermine our leadership in technological advancement and utilize AI to threaten our way of life. We must continue to innovate and develop to prevent that from happening. “Competition in AI is a global issue, and it is imperative that the United States maintains its leadership.  “To do this, we must foster an environment where AI companies can innovate, compete, and excel on the global stage. Just like the light regulatory touch that gave rise to the internet and some of the most successful and cutting-edge companies on the planet, AI must be given the same opportunity to ensure American companies set the standard for the rest of the world. “This is an exciting time and opportunity to talk about these issues. Navigating these new and evolving technologies will not be without challenges, but we must meet them head-on.  “Innovation has provided untold benefits to Americans and to our economy. Today, we will hear from our witnesses about how artificial intelligence is being used across the telecommunications, technology, and media industries, as well as what is required for the United States to maintain its leadership in developing AI models. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses today about these issues and how Congress can stand ready as a partner. “I now yield five minutes to my colleague, Ranking Member Doris Matsui, for her opening statement.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced a hearing titled AI in the Everyday: Current Applications and Future Frontiers in Communications and Technology. “Artificial intelligence is launching our economy into a new American golden age marked by development and opportunity, but these increasingly dynamic industries need certainty that our networks can support the future of artificial intelligence and its applications. Fast, reliable networks are crucial for enabling innovation and enhancing America’s technological advantage,”  said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson.  “We look forward to discussing with our witnesses about how Congress can support this important goal.”  Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled  AI in the Everyday: Current Applications and Future Frontiers in Communications and Technology . WHAT: Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing on AI and communications infrastructure. DATE:  Wednesday, June 4, 2025  TIME:  10:30 AM ET  LOCATION:  2123 Rayburn House Office Building  This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at  energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Noah Jackson at  Noah.Jackson@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at  Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov .  ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a hearing titled Global Networks at Risk: Securing the Future of Telecommunications Infrastructure .  “Today, we rely on communications infrastructure in nearly every sector of our economy,” said Chairman Hudson. “As Americans become more connected, it is increasingly important the equipment we buy and the networks we rely on are secure, resilient, and protected from malicious actors.” Watch the full hearing here .  Below are key excerpts from yesterday’s hearing: Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “The systems that connect us, our networks, our satellites, cables, towers, and data centers form the invisible architecture of 21st century life. Safeguarding that infrastructure, as you've all talked about, is not just a matter of technology, it's a matter of strategy, security, and sovereignty.” Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01): “I represent the great state of Idaho and there is a lot of rural space there. A lot of the ISPs don't have a tremendous number of cybersecurity resources, but they will oftentimes be integrated with major infrastructure components. Whether it be a power plant or a grid or flood control or some of those major things that oftentimes can have an impact, without necessarily the infrastructure or the cybersecurity expertise to fend off some of these new threats that are on the way. I'd like to get any suggestions or comments on how CISA might be a resource for that or other sources of a counsel through your role at NTIA?” Mr. Stehlin: “Thank you for that. Idaho is a tremendous opportunity to take advantage of the monies put forth with rip and replace, for example. You know, these rural operators have a hard time making money running a business when you're so spread out. So, removing things like untrusted gear like Huawei or ZTE gear, critically important.” Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02): “Mr. Stroup, you mentioned in your testimony access to sufficient spectrum resources is necessary to secure infrastructure. Can you briefly elaborate on this and share what kind of spectrum authorities you think would make the most sense right now for the space industry?” Mr. Stroup: “ Our industry is growing substantially. As an example, approximately 10 years ago we had a thousand satellites operational. Today, that number is over twelve thousand. That's just to give you a sense of the growth in the industry.” ###