This bill directs the U.S. government to create a strategy for maintaining global leadership in Wi-Fi and unlicensed wireless technologies, specifically in preparation for a major international conference in Shanghai in 2027. It requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop a public plan within 180 days that outlines how the United States will advocate for specific spectrum allocations and counter efforts by foreign adversaries to undermine these technologies. The plan must include strategies to coordinate with allies and address actions taken by the Chinese government, with a final report on progress due after the conference concludes.
The Digital Opportunity Foundation Act of 2026 establishes a new nonprofit organization called the Foundation for Digital Opportunity to help communities with low broadband adoption rates gain access to technology and digital skills. This foundation will be funded by raising money from private donors, philanthropic groups, and government entities rather than using direct federal appropriations. It will operate with a diverse board of directors and an executive team to distribute grants, run training programs, and support startups focused on digital inclusion. The bill also allows the foundation to create for-profit subsidiaries to attract investment and requires regular public reporting on its activities and financial status.
The CLOSE THE GAP Act aims to streamline the permitting process for installing and modifying communications facilities, such as cell towers, on Federal land managed by agencies like the National Park Service and the Forest Service. It requires these agencies to create standardized, technology-neutral rules that allow applications to be processed simultaneously rather than sequentially and mandates that fees charged to applicants be based solely on the actual administrative costs incurred. To improve transparency and speed, the bill establishes online portals for submitting applications, requires agencies to track and report processing times, and creates a new working group to coordinate reviews across different Federal land management agencies. Additionally, the legislation simplifies environmental reviews for projects on previously analyzed land and allows for faster approval of public safety improvements at existing sites without requiring new environmental impact statements.
The Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2026 directs the Federal Communications Commission to create two grant programs for states to improve access to the Lifeline broadband subsidy. The first program provides funding to help states inform low-income residents who qualify for the Lifeline benefit but are not yet enrolled about how to apply and what the program offers. The second program funds states to connect their local benefit databases with the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, ensuring that receipt of other government assistance is properly recorded for eligibility checks. To receive these grants, states must submit detailed plans outlining their outreach strategies and expected reach, with the FCC prioritizing areas with more eligible individuals and diverse geographic regions. The bill also requires the FCC to report on the programs' effectiveness to Congress within three years and authorizes funding for the first five fiscal years.
This bill creates a new grant program administered by the Federal Communications Commission to help states reach low-income individuals who qualify for the Lifeline broadband subsidy but have not yet signed up. Under the first provision, states can apply for funding to run outreach campaigns that inform these people about their eligibility and guide them through the application process, often by partnering with local community organizations. The second provision provides separate grants to states to connect their existing databases with the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, ensuring that benefits from programs like SNAP are automatically recognized when determining who qualifies for free internet services.
The Blocking CCP Spy Tech Act of 2026 directs U.S. national security agencies to evaluate whether specific communications equipment and services from seven Chinese companies pose a risk to national security. If these agencies fail to make a determination within a year or find the technology risky, the Federal Communications Commission must add the equipment to a banned list that prevents U.S. telecom providers from using it. The law also requires the Secretary of Defense to decide if these same entities should be classified as Chinese military companies operating in the United States. This process directly affects telecommunications companies and federal agencies responsible for maintaining secure communication networks.
The Outage Refund Protection Act requires large cable, satellite, internet, and telephone providers to automatically credit customers' bills when service outages last four hours or longer. These credits are calculated as one-thirtieth of the monthly rate for each day of unavailability, and any excess amount must be refunded within 30 days if the customer cancels their service. The bill also mandates that providers improve customer service by extending accessibility requirements, recording support calls, and eliminating fees for reaching a representative, while prohibiting refunds for pre-planned maintenance that customers were notified about in advance.
Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress on the Appalachian Regional Commission’s capability to incorporate satellites in broadband projects. Specifically, the study must review and analyze the capacity and cost-effectiveness of using satellite broadband service for business purposes and economic development.
This bill, the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026, aims to speed up the permitting process for broadband internet projects by requiring federal agencies to create better tracking tools and reporting systems. It mandates the creation of a public dashboard to monitor how grant funds are spent and where broadband service has been established, as well as a tool to help local groups identify and track federal permit requirements. The legislation also requires federal agencies to analyze and report on factors causing delays in processing communications applications and to alert staff when projects are at risk of missing deadlines. Additionally, it clarifies that large-scale broadband construction projects involving over $5 million must undergo environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 restricts the importation, sale, and manufacture of vehicles and related technology from specific countries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, to address national security concerns. The law defines prohibited items as connected vehicles, their software, and hardware components and sets different effective dates, with vehicle bans starting in 2027 and hardware restrictions beginning in 2030. A government official can grant exceptions for specific items after reviewing security risks and notifying Congress, while the agency must publish annual reports on enforcement actions and compliance.
