INCOMPAS News -- July 20, 2026

Vol. 22, No. 29

July 20, 2026

Five Game-Changing Reasons You Should be at The INCOMPAS Show

If you want the access and intelligence to grow your business, here are five reasons why you can't afford to miss The 2026 INCOMPAS Show, November 1-3 in Nashville.

Discount passes available for a limited time.

FCC Hosts IP Transition Workshop

Last week, the FCC hosted an industry workshop to discuss the proposed reforms to Internet Protocol (IP) interconnection, intercarrier compensation and related legacy Universal Service Fund issues.

The workshops will be available to view on-demand here.

FCC Issues Tentative Agenda
for August 6 Open Meeting

The FCC issued the tentative agenda for its August 6 open meeting, where it will consider:

Maximizing Efficiencies in Universal Service Administration - An NPRM that would focus on proposed measures aimed at strengthening the FCC’s management and administration of the Universal Service Fund and oversight of USAC. The NPRM would seek comment on current USF administration processes, the structure of USF administration, operating costs associated with USF administration and the impact of USAC’s board of directors on USF administration.
Promoting Telehealth in Rural America – A third FNPRM and order that would focus on several program improvements intended to reduce administrative burdens and costs on Rural Health Care Program participants and better administer limited funding given increased program participation and service costs.
Replacing the National Television Multiple Ownership Rule - A report and order that would remove restrictions on multiple ownership of broadcast television stations based on the stations’ national audience reach.
Opening Up More Than 200 Megahertz of Unlicensed Spectrum for D2D Offerings – An NPRM that would unleash unlicensed spectrum for direct-to-device satellite communication services.

FCC Chair Highlights Build America Agenda Accomplishments

Chairman Brendan Carr issued a statement highlighting accomplishments the FCC has made under its Build America Agenda. He said the FCC has adopted rules to streamline the process for communities to move to new high-speed networks, adopted reforms to accelerate the transition to an all-IP environment and updated pole attachment rules.

Carr also said the FCC has taken action to restore America’s leadership in wireless, boosted America’s space economy and promoted national security. He also noted that the FCC has eliminated or proposed to eliminate 2,192 rules or regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations and closed over 2,000 inactive or dormant dockets.

Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Assist Rural Carriers

Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced a bipartisan bill to expand access to broadband in rural areas and ease the burden of regulatory costs for smaller broadband providers on which rural communities rely.

The Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength and Supports Rural America Act will provide regulatory relief to rural telecommunications service providers by allowing them to submit streamlined financial reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and create an exemption from certain SEC public registration and reporting requirements for rural telecommunications companies.

Senate Commerce Committee Reschedules Executive Session

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation full committee executive session has been rescheduled to July 22.

The committee will consider nominations and legislation, including Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026 (S. 4448). The bill, introduced by Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and John Barrasso (R-WY), would require NTIA to create tools for tracking the progress of grant recipients under the BEAD Program and help executive agencies improve compliance with the statutory deadline for processing communications use applications, and for other purposes.

House Subcommittee to Hold July 22 Hearing on Network Bills

The House Commerce subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a July 22 hearing on protecting communications networks and improving connectivity. The committee will consider a number of bills, including

PLAN for Broadband Act (H.R. 2805)
Data BRIDGE Act (H.R. 4950)
Foreign Robocall Elimination Act (H.R. 6152)

House Marks Up Bills to Support Safe, Reliable Nuclear Power

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy marked up six bills focused on Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing reform, domestic nuclear fuel-cycle development, NRC workforce retention and Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear transparency. The dominant theme was how to accelerate nuclear deployment while maintaining safety, transparency and public trust.

Procedurally, all six bills were adopted by voice vote and forwarded to the full Committee. The Nuclear REFUEL Act (H.R. 3978) and the Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act (H.R. 9084), were adopted as amended. The remaining four bills moved without amendment.

House Small Business Committee Holds Hearing on AI

Last week, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing examining how artificial intelligence is shaping small-business operations, competitiveness, workforce development, data protection and access to technical support.

Watch the hearing on-demand here.

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