Joyce Remarks At FY25 Budget Request For The Federal Communications Commission (As Prepared)

The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government will come to order.

I’d like to welcome Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr. I appreciate both of you participating in today’s hearing to give members of the subcommittee the opportunity to discuss the Federal Communications Commission’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request.

The Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for the Commission is more than $448 million dollars. That is nearly 15 percent higher than the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level, and a much larger increase than the Commission has historically requested. 

I was surprised to see that the Commission failed to request funding for the Secure and Trusted Communications Network Reimbursement Program, also known as Rip and Replace.

As you know, Rip and Replace is an important priority, particularly to ensure that our Nation’s communications infrastructure is safe from foreign interference.

Unfortunately, due to budget shortfalls in Rip and Replace, many small providers invested money to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment, but they don’t have funds to replace it.  

The Commission has relied on a prior supplemental funding request instead of working proactively with Congress on a clear path forward to address the critical shortfall.

Something similar could be said for the continuance of the Affordable Connectivity Program. The Commission has emphasized the impact of the program running out of funding The Administration has spoken as if the continuance of the program is a top priority, while relying on the expectation of emergency spending measures that fall outside of our annual budget caps.

However, the $6 billion dollar emergency request for this program would only be a temporary fix. If the FCC is going to prioritize bringing affordable high-speed broadband to the country, then it needs to weigh the costs of doing so, and ensure it is implemented in a targeted way to prevent unnecessary payments and waste.

This program is ripe for Congressional oversight and even the agency’s Inspector General has sounded the alarm on whether the service is going to those it was intended to help.

Although funding for the Commission is fully offset by fees, Congress has an important role in providing oversight of the Commission’s work and that it remains focused on its core mission.

In light of recent action by the Commission, Congressional oversight is more important than ever. Last month, the Commission voted along party lines to revive the Obama-era Net Neutrality policy.

Contrary to the fear-mongering we heard years ago, the Internet is accessible – even more today than it was in 2017. The accessibility includes higher  broadband speeds and increased competition, not to mention the continued expansion of telecommunications infrastructure around the country.

It's my view that this action is unnecessarily reviving a politicized policy that has no statutory authority. Such actions are not what an independent agency like this one should be focused on.

With that being said, I am encouraged by the steps the Commission has taken to expand awareness and usage of the 9-8-8 suicide hotline and I look forward to continuing to work with the Commission to ensure emergency calls, including suicide intervention calls, are accurately directed.

I’ll now turn to our Ranking Member, Mr. Hoyer, for his opening remarks.