INCOMPAS News -- January 20, 2026

Vol. 22, No. 3

January 20, 2026

INCOMPAS Policy Summit Line Up is Live for February 4 and 5

The 2026 INCOMPAS Policy Summit is just two weeks away, and we have put together an impressive line up that you can't afford to miss!

Over two days - Wednesday, February 4 and Thursday, February 5 in Washington, D.C. - we will feature deep dives into the policy issues impacting your business, including addresses from:

Don't Miss Your Chance to Attend!

Spots are filling quickly. Reserve your seat today!

Alongside these keynotes, the program will feature dynamic, expert‑led panels that dig into the technologies, policies and infrastructure shaping the nation’s digital and energy future.

February 4 - Unleashing Innovation: Building the Backbone for the Digital Age

February 5 - The Future of Infrastructure

INCOMPAS Comments on Streamlining Broadband Label Rules

INCOMPAS filed comments regarding the FCC's proposals to streamline broadband label requirements. INCOMPAS expressed strong support for the FCC’s efforts to strike a balance between transparency and the elimination of costly, complex obligations that do not offer measurable benefits to consumers.

“In today’s competitive environment where consumers often choose between fiber, cable, fixed wireless and mobile broadband, natural market incentives already reward truthful and clear marketing. The Commission’s proposals to streamline these rules strike the right balance by maintaining the purpose of the consumer label, while eliminating obligations that add complexity and cost without helping consumers," Staci L. Pies, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Policy at INCOMPAS, said in a statement.

INCOMPAS CEO to Speak at Connecting Communities Summit

INCOMPAS CEO will be one of the featured speakers at Tarana Wireless' 2nd Annual Connecting Communities Summit on Wednesday, January 28, at Tarana's headquarters in Milpitas, Calif.

Other speakers include the NTIA's Adam Cassady; state broadband officers from California, Idaho and Oklahoma; and representatives from ISPs from throughout the country.

Interested in attending? Register here.

NTIA Updates BEAD Dashboard, Louisiana 1st to Sign Grants

NTIA’s BEAD Program dashboard was updated on January 7, showing that final proposals were approved for 42 of the 56 states and territories.

NTIA also said 53 out of 56 states and territories have submitted their final proposals for review, and the remaining three eligible entities have been granted short-term extensions and will be submitting their final proposals in the coming weeks.

Louisiana became the first state in the country to sign BEAD grant agreements with ISPs.

Supreme Court to Review Decisions on CPNI Violations

The U.S. Supreme Court granted petitions for a writ of certiorari filed by Verizon and the FCC, seeking review of decisions addressing 2024 forfeiture orders against Verizon and AT&T for violation of CPNI rules.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit vacated an order fining AT&T over $57 million, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit upheld an order fining Verizon almost $47 million. The court consolidated the cases and will hear them together.

Bipartisan Appropriations Bill Released, Includes FCC Funding

The Senate and House appropriations committees released the bicameral, bipartisan Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026. Among other things, the bill would provide $416,112,000 for the FCC for fiscal year 2026.

Bill Introduced to Reauthorize Middle Mile Program

Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced legislation that would reauthorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture's middle mile infrastructure program for five years to help connect rural communities to high-speed internet.

House Committee Hearings Week of January 12

Numerous House Committees held hearings on issues impacting communications and infrastructure last week. Click on the links below for more information and to watch the hearings on demand:

FCC Oversight - House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Advancing America’s AI Action Plan - House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Protecting America’s Energy Infrastructure - House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Energy reviewed five discussion drafts of bills prior to their formal introduction
Building an AI-Ready America - House Education and Workforce Committee
Maintaining American Innovation and Technology Leadership - House Ways and Means Committee Trade Subcommittee
Winning the Arms Race - House Committee on Foreign Affairs

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