U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, questioned Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr at an oversight hearing in Washington, D.C., regarding rising costs for TV, cellphone, and broadband services. The hearing also included Commissioners Olivia Trusty and Anna Gomez.
Senator Cantwell criticized the FCC's approach to industry consolidation and its impact on consumer prices. “The question is, what is the Chairman of the FCC -- and the FCC -- doing to bring down costs for consumers?” said Sen. Cantwell. “The American people deserve an FCC that protects them from hidden fees and promotes affordability. The FCC, though, is, in my mind, doing just the opposite in allowing consolidations that reduces competition and can help drive up costs. Americans are paying more than ever for streaming, cable, and wireless services.”
A report released by Sen. Cantwell outlined increased expenses for American consumers attributed to policies under Chairman Carr’s leadership at the FCC. According to Sen. Cantwell: “Streaming costs are up 13 percent this year alone. Basic cable costs have more than doubled in the last 10 years, and Americans are paying more than almost any other country for wireless. And what is the FCC doing to help drive down those costs? I see an FCC that is not focused enough on affordability.”
Commissioner Anna Gomez addressed concerns about affordability during her opening remarks at the hearing: “Millions of households have faced rising broadband costs following the lapse of the Affordable Connectivity Program, with little action from the Commission focused on affordability or consumer relief,” said Commissioner Gomez. “These missed opportunities reflect a troubling lack of focus on the everyday challenges consumers face in accessing and affording essential communications services. Beyond missed opportunities, this FCC has taken affirmative actions that have raised costs and reduced choice for consumers. FCC actions contributed to the loss of a potential fourth national wireless competitor, weakening competition and increasing the risk of higher prices.”
Gomez further commented on media consolidation: “These affordability concerns are especially acute in the media landscape,” stated Commissioner Gomez. “The FCC has advanced plans that would allow billion-dollar media companies to grow even larger, at the expense of local news and community-driven reporting. This push comes at a time when major media companies are already consolidating across broadcasting, streaming, and content production, raising serious questions about market power, editorial independence, and the future of community-based journalism.”
In response to Sen. Cantwell’s inquiry about solutions for increased competition and lower costs Gomez replied: “I'm a firm believer that robust competition results in benefits for consumers, including lower costs, and I am concerned that the level of consolidation in this country is actually reducing the incentives that lead to lower costs for consumers… one of the things that I'm very concerned about is the lack of a program to provide affordable access to connectivity for consumers throughout this country. We are spending billions of dollars in order to deploy networks in the hardest to reach areas, but we're not going to make sure that they are sustainable if people can't afford to actually purchase that service.”
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester also questioned Commissioner Gomez about changes in affordability policies between different administrations’ approaches at the FCC.
Commissioner Gomez responded: “This administration has really lost its focus on consumer issues… And particularly on affordability. We have not seen any action to address affordability. When we lost the Affordable Connectivity Program, millions of consumers lost their service and lost their support for their service. We are spending billions of dollars to deploy networks, but we're not going to have sustainable networks if people cannot afford to actually have subscribed to the service.
“We need seniors to have access so that they can get health care services. We need students to have access to broadband so that they can prepare themselves for this AI economy that is coming. We need people to be able to access internet for jobs... Instead, this commission took back ability provide hot spots through libraries... Same thing with Wi-Fi on school busses... We are not ensuring that people who cannot afford be connected can get access internet.”
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee regularly reviews legislation related to commerce, science and transportation during congressional sessions as part of its work within the legislative branch. The committee includes senators from both parties and is directed by a chairman. Its main office is located in Washington D.C.
