Statement of The Honorable Olivia Trusty
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission 
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
December 17, 2025

Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.
It has been nearly six months since I was sworn in as a Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission.  In that time, I have had the privilege of working on policies to expand access to high-speed connectivity, enhance the resilience of the Nation’s communications networks, and restore U.S. leadership in next-generation communications technologies. 
Critical to my work has been the opportunity to travel across the country and around the world to hear directly from broadband providers, tower engineers, fiber splicers, consumers, and our international partners and allies. Whether in Jackson, Mississippi, Eek, Alaska, or Baku, Azerbaijan, I heard about the state of the communications marketplace and how access to fixed, mobile, and satellite connectivity is delivering on the promise of job creation, technological innovation, and economic prosperity. 
 In Jackson, Mississippi, I saw how broadband is delivering quality, life-saving care straight into the homes of Mississippians across the Magnolia State.  Doctors at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are treating chronic illnesses, managing high-risk pregnancies, and delivering mental health care by video to rural communities that would otherwise go without these essential services.   
In Bethel and Eek, Alaska, I saw how access to broadband is transforming lives.  These Alaskan towns are home to some of the most rugged and hard-to-reach terrain, and broadband is enabling Alaska Natives and Non-Natives alike to contribute to, and benefit from, the global digital economy, while maintaining their treasured culture and way of life. 
And this fall, I traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, to represent the United States at the International Telecommunication Union’s World Telecommunication Development Conference.  There, ministers and regulators from around the globe highlighted their progress on closing the digital divide within their nation’s borders. They also used this forum to seek U.S. guidance and leadership on maximizing spectrum efficiency, building trusted networks and secure supply chains, and creating a regulatory environment that invites continued innovation, investment, and competition, while protecting consumers and enhancing public safety.  
	These are issues we confront at the FCC in almost every proceeding.  They also inform the three priorities guiding my work: universal connectivity, network resilience, and U.S. leadership. 
Ensuring that every American has access to communications services has been the FCC’s core mission since its founding.  Following my confirmation, the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund.  I commend the bipartisan, bicameral congressional USF Working Group for taking the initiative to identify reforms to ensure the program’s sustainability and continued support for the operation and maintenance of communications networks in rural and remote areas. 
In an era of growing digital hostility, however, achieving universal connectivity requires increased focus on the deployment of trusted and resilient network infrastructure.  Our communications networks are the backbone of both our economy and our defense.  From robocall scams to foreign-made network components, to infrastructure vandalism and copper theft, the threats are evolving rapidly. Recent Commission actions to remove foreign adversary-owned labs from our equipment authorization process, to block illegal robocalls from exploiting American consumers, and to garner commitments from broadband providers to harden their network infrastructure, will enhance network integrity, while allowing us to maintain agility in responding to new and emerging threats. 
U.S. leadership in next-generation technologies – 6G, AI, emerging commercial services in space and more – hinges on our ability to deploy high-speed and resilient communications infrastructure to every corner of the country.  Thanks to President Trump and the leadership of Chairman Cruz, and the members of this Committee, the Commission’s general spectrum auction authority has been restored, along with the creation of a long-term spectrum pipeline. This positions America to lead in wireless innovation and beyond.  Our continued success in technological advancement will ultimately be determined by a domestic and international regulatory environment that emphasizes innovation, competition, and global cooperation. Importantly, U.S. leadership isn’t inevitable, it must be earned.  I look forward to working with members of this committee and our interagency partners to ensure the United States is positioned to capture first-mover advantages in technologies that will define the future of our economic and national security.  
Mr. Chairman, thank you, again, for this opportunity to testify.  I look forward to your questions.