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Press Releases 07/21/2021
Committee GOP Members Urge Leader Schumer to Follow Regular Order to Advance Broadband in Infrastructure Legislation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today joined eight Committee colleagues in a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to move any broadband-related provisions through the committee process while developing bipartisan infrastructure legislation.
Press Releases 07/21/2021
Wicker, Capito, Young Introduce Bill to Explore Collecting USF Contributions from Big Tech
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., and Todd Young, R-Ind., today introduced the Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable (FAIR) Contributions Act. The legislation would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct a study into the feasibility of collecting Universal Service Fund (USF) contributions from internet edge providers such as YouTube, Netflix, and Google.
Press Releases 07/16/2021
Committee Leaders Urge President to Prioritize Data Privacy Legislation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., ranking member of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, along with Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., ranking member of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, today sent a letter urging President Joseph Biden to prioritize comprehensive data privacy legislation as part of the Administration’s agenda.
Press Releases 07/15/2021
Wicker, Thune Urge FCC to Move Quickly in RDOF Application Review
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and John Thune, R-S.D., ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to request a status update on the agency’s long-form application review process for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction, which awarded $9.2 billion over ten years to over 300 bidders to deploy high-speed broadband to over 5.2 million unserved homes and businesses in 49 states. The FCC’s RDOF rules prohibit the agency from authorizing money to winning bidders until it reviews and approves a given provider’s long-form application.
Press Releases 07/13/2021
Wicker Releases Committee Report Revealing Abuse at the Commerce Department
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released a Committee report detailing misconduct in the Investigations and Threat Management Service (ITMS) at the Department of Commerce.
Press Releases 07/9/2021
Wicker Asks NTIA to Reassess Data Collection Processes
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today sent a letter the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) asking the agency to reassess its data collection processes and sources, and use only the most up-to-date and accurate data as it updates its map. Accurate broadband maps are essential to ensuring that NTIA appropriately targets over $1.5 billion to expand broadband access to minority communities, Tribal lands, and unserved areas, as well as other broadband programs Congress is currently contemplating as part of infrastructure legislation.
Press Releases 06/30/2021
Senators Ask CDC, TSA for Update on Travel Guidance, Mask Requirements on Planes, Buses
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for more information on when and how the agencies will update their travel guidance for vaccinated people.
Press Releases 06/23/2021
Wicker Requests Agencies to Account for Spending on COVID-19 Broadband Funding
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today sent letters to the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Treasury requesting the agencies to report on the disbursement of funds received for broadband deployment, adoption, or other connectivity initiatives from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Press Releases 06/22/2021
What They Are Saying | Maritime Community Welcomes Wicker’s USCG Act
Press Releases 06/16/2021
Wicker Commends Committee Passage of Surface Transportation Bill
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following statement after the Committee approved the Surface Transportation Investment Act, as well as five other bills, three nominations, and Coast Guard promotions.

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