House holds hearing on oversight of the Federal Communications Commission with Brendan Carr —1/14/26

Summary

The House Communications & Technology Subcommittee held an oversight hearing with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty. Lawmakers clashed over FCC independence, First Amendment concerns, media consolidation, and broadcast ownership caps. The hearing also covered spectrum auction authority, broadband deployment, satellite and direct-to-cell policy, cybersecurity, robocalls, drones, and undersea cables.

• The subcommittee questioned FCC leaders on independence and alleged politicization.
• Members debated broadcast ownership caps and the proposed Nexstar-Tegna merger.
• The FCC highlighted restored spectrum auction authority and an 800 MHz spectrum pipeline.
• Broadband deployment, BEAD, USF, and rural connectivity were central consumer topics.
• Satellite, direct-to-cell, Wi-Fi, and unlicensed spectrum were discussed as next-generation priorities.
• Cybersecurity, robocalls, drones, and undersea cables were framed as national security issues.
• No direct security-specific investment recommendations were made.