WCAI Congratulates Mignon Clyburn and Meredith Baker on Confirmation as FCC Commissioners

The full Senate has approved the nominations of Mignon Clyburn and Meredith Attwell Baker to fill the remaining two seats on the FCC. The vote came yesterday afternoon by unanimous consent.

WCAI applauds the Senate for promptly confirming Commissioners Clyburn and Baker to serve on the FCC. With all five commissioners now onboard, the agency is well-equipped to promote innovative wireless broadband services and achieve universal wireless broadband access in the United States. On behalf of the wireless broadband industry, I congratulate Commissioners Clyburn and Baker on their confirmations and look forward to working with them.

WCAI Congratulates Aneesh Chopra on Confirmation as Nation’s First CTO

Last week, the full Senate confirmed Aneesh Chopra as associate director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he will also serve as the nation's first chief technology officer. We at WCAI congratulate Mr. Chopra on the confirmation and look forward to working with him to promote innovative wireless broadband services and achieve universal wireless broadband access in the United States. I can think of no better candidate than Mr. Chopra to execute the President Obama’s vision for a 21st century economy and ensure that all Americans have access to wireless broadband services.

WCAI Urges Congress to Ensure Wireless Broadband Eligibility for Government Grants

As Senate and House conferees are working out the details of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, I sent letters to Congressional leaders today, urging them to assure that commercial entities are eligible for direct grants from NTIA by adopting the House definition of “eligibility” for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. WCAI’s members stand ready to play a leading role in creating jobs and bringing wireless broadband to those areas of the country that are not adequately served. To achieve these goals, commercial wireless broadband providers must be clearly eligible and have direct access to grant funding.

The letters went to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Thad Cochran, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Jerry Lewis, House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, and House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Dave Camp.

Senate Approves Grants for Wireless Broadband Deployment

The Senate today passed an economic stimulus bill, which includes $6.65 billion in grants for broadband deployment. WCAI is pleased to see funds approved for the delivery of wireless broadband to rural areas. As the only broadband platform that is capable of providing access everywhere, all the time, and at affordable prices, wireless broadband is essential to broadband connectivity, especially in rural areas. Many WCAI members serving rural and underserved areas would be in a position to implement their business plans more quickly and broadly with the support of the government funding. This would create new jobs, strengthen our economy and ensure that America remains competitive globally.