INCOMPAS News -- January 26, 2026

Vol. 22, No. 4

January 26, 2026

Panel Line-Up Set for Feb. 4-5 at The INCOMPAS Policy Summit

In just about one week, The 2026 INCOMPAS Policy Summit is kicking off its panel discussions with a special presentation of Broadband Breakfast Live Online, which will be broadcasting from the summit in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, February 4, at 10 a.m. ET – two hours earlier than their usual start time – Broadband Breakfast will bring its signature, no‑nonsense policy conversation to this special session on one of the biggest barriers to nationwide connectivity: permitting bottlenecks.

Featured speakers on the Broadband Permitting and Infrastructure Deployment: Accelerating Community Connectivity panel include:

Don't Miss Your Chance to Attend!

Spots are filling quickly. Reserve your seat today!

Once registered, download the INCOMPAS Policy Summit Mobile App to stay up-to-date on the schedule, add can't-miss keynotes and sessions to your calendar, learn more about our sponsors and connect with other attendees.

Two Days of Keynotes and Panel Discussions

This Broadband Breakfast session is just one part of the two‑day INCOMPAS Policy Summit. The schedule features keynote speakers from Capitol Hill, the FCC, NTIA, Permitting Council and Department of Energy as well as additional panels:

February 4

Breaking the Speed Barrier: Fixed Wireless as the Next Broadband Frontier - At 11:30 a.m., this critical session brings together industry leaders to discuss enforcement mechanisms, technology solutions and the policy frameworks needed to protect America's most essential communications service in an all-IP world. Moderated by Christopher L. Shipley, Executive Director of Public Policy, INCOMPAS, the panel includes:

Claude Aiken, Chief Strategy Officer, Nextlink Internet
Carl Guardino, Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy, Tarana

From Copper to Cloud: Protecting Emergency Calling in the IP Transition - At 1 p.m., enforcement mechanisms, technology solutions and the policy frameworks needed to protect America's most essential communications service in an all-IP world will be discussed. Moderated by Brent Struthers, STI-GA Director at ATIS, this panel includes:

Greg Rogers, Head, Global Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Bandwidth
Josh Ruby, General Counsel, Granite
Sean Sullivan, Vice President, Product Management and Regulatory Affairs, MetTel

The Invisible Lifelines: Securing America's Global Connectivity - This session at 1:45 p.m. explores security protocols, redundancy strategies, investment needs and the international cooperation required to protect the physical infrastructure of the global digital economy. Led by Alexander Botting, Senior Director, Global Security & Technology Strategy, Venable LLP, the panels include:

Pamela Arluk, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, NCTA
Paula Boyd, Senior Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs, Microsoft
Evelyn Remaley, Partner, Wilkinson Barker Knauer

February 5

Infrastructure Imperative: Scaling Broadband, Data Centers, and Grid Capacity - During this 8:30 a.m. session TIA CEO David Stehlin and INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering will discuss the investments, innovations and quality measures required to prevent infrastructure bottlenecks.

Energy Permitting Reform: Unlocking America's Power Future - This 9:20 a.m. session will examine how streamlined, predictable permitting processes can accelerate deployment of both generation and transmission infrastructure, while keeping existing reliable energy resources online as we add new technologies to our energy portfolio. Moderated by Staci Pies, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Policy, INCOMPAS, panelists include:

Steve Haro, Founder, Haro Solutions
Carol Lane, Vice President, Government Relations, X-Energy
Brianne Miller, Senior Director, Energy and Infrastructure Policy, Microsoft

Data Centers as Catalysts: Investment, Jobs and Grid Modernization - At 10:45 a.m., this session brings together industry leaders and economic development experts to showcase how data center investments drive regional prosperity, modernize electrical infrastructure and position communities for the AI-powered economy. Moderated by Steve DelBianco, President & CEO, NetChoice, the panel includes:

Kevin Gundersen, Head, Public Affairs, Digital Realty
Alan Poole, General Counsel, DC BLOX
Asim Raza, Vice President & General Counsel, Arcadian Infracom
Lisa Youngers, Head, Public Policy and External Affairs, EdgeConneX

The Competitive Energy Revolution: Building Abundance Through Innovation - Wrapping up the day at 12:45, this panel will debate breakthrough technologies, investment trends, behind-the-meter generation rights, transmission access, interconnection reform and regulatory changes needed to power America’s AI economy. Moderated by Tom Hassenboehler, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, CO2EFFICIENT, the panel includes:

Liz Bowman, Vice President, Government Affairs & Outreach, Williams
Ray Fakhoury, Manager, Energy Policy, AWS Public Policy
Marsden Hanna, Head of Energy and Sustainability Policy, Google

INCOMPAS Comments on Advancing IP Interconnection NPRM

INCOMPAS filed comments in response to the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on accelerating the transition of communications networks to all Internet Protocol (IP) technology and completing the technology transition.

“INCOMPAS members are at the forefront of deploying IP technology and depend on reliable, nondiscriminatory interconnection and access to incumbent facilities to deliver voice services, enterprise connectivity and public safety communications. The transition away from time-division multiplexing (TDM) to IP-based networks presents a significant opportunity to modernize the nation's telecommunications infrastructure, while also improving network resiliency and enhancing public safety communications. This transition will only be successful if the FCC adopts an enforceable framework for IP interconnection that covers numbered voice services in order to strengthen competition, and enable the Commission's broader public interest goals, including the delivery of public safety traffic,” said Christopher L. Shipley, Executive Director of Public Policy at INCOMPAS.

“The threats posed by premature forbearance of interconnection and collocation are real and immediate: 911 service disruptions, continued obstacles to STIR/SHAKEN call authentication and the delays in implementing enhanced call presentation solutions. INCOMPAS urges the Commission to proceed cautiously with forbearance proposals to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place before eliminating longstanding competitive protections. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Commission to ensure that the IP transition delivers on its promise of improved service, greater efficiency and continued innovation for the benefit of all Americans,” Shipley concluded.

INCOMPAS CEO Speaks at Cloud Connections 2026

Last week INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering (second from left) joined Jonathan Marashlian, Managing Partner of Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC; Mark Iannuzzi, President of TelNet Worldwide; and Michael Pryor, Shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for a panel "From the Cloud to the Hill: CCA's Advocacy in Action" at Cloud Connections 2026.

Order Revoking E-Rate Funding for Hotspots Effective Feb. 20

The September 2025 order on reconsideration revoking E-Rate funding for off premises use of Wi-Fi hotspots and internet services was published in the Federal Register.

The order is effective February 20, 2026, and changes to sections 54.504 (requests for services) and 54.516 (auditing and inspections) in the July 2024 report and order are withdrawn.

House Committee Approves Bill on Appalachia Satellite Broadband

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved H.R. 2474, Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act.

The bill would direct the Government Accountability Office to study whether satellite broadband can be effectively incorporated into broadband projects supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The study will assess the capacity and cost effectiveness of satellite broadband to support businesses and economic development in rural and distressed Appalachian communities.

Sen. Van Hollen Introduces Bill on Data Centers, Energy

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Power for the People Act. The bill would make several regulatory changes requiring data centers to supply their own power sources and shift responsibility for costs of increases to grid capacity to accommodate usage to the companies themselves.

House Holds Hearing on Data Centers and Rural Economies

The House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy and Supply Chains last week convened a bipartisan hearing to examine how expanding data center investment and rising AI demand are reshaping rural economies.

Watch on demand here.

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