Cantwell Eyes June Infrastructure Markup

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told us Thursday she’s eyeing a mid-June markup of the committee’s portion of an infrastructure legislative package, as Republicans and the White House talk about possible compromise. Senate Public Works Committee ranking member Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and other GOP leaders unveiled a revised counteroffer Thursday standing pat on $65 billion for broadband, as expected (see 2105250002).

Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri was the only Republican to mention connectivity during a news conference to unveil the revised counterproposal, telling reporters broadband “would not have met the early congressional definition of infrastructure, of course, or even the definition 40 years ago, but it fits well within the connectedness aspect of what Americans would think infrastructure should be.” Other available documents on the revised offer didn't include new details on how the Republicans would allocate the broadband money.

Cantwell believes how lawmakers allocate broadband spending will be more important than whether the money is closer to Democrats’ proposed $100 billion (see 2103310064) or Republicans' $65 billion. Ensuring that money addresses “affordability and connectivity” is the essential issue, she told us. Some Democrats are open to using the budget reconciliation process to pass an infrastructure package (see 2103160001), which wouldn't require any Republican votes if all 50 Democrats approve.

Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., told reporters he viewed Wednesday's meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and other lawmakers as productive. Broadband spending “is not only bipartisan but the way Americans experience it is nonpartisan,” Harris told reporters.

Harris “emphasized the importance of” the U.S. investing “in infrastructure to maintain a competitive edge” with China and other countries, Lujan said: Biden and Harris “understand the importance and the urgency of building out broadband infrastructure in America and getting us to 100% connectivity.” Lujan said he again “raised the importance of” Biden nominating a third FCC Democrat, naming acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel as permanent chair and selecting a permanent NTIA administrator. There’s “no better person” to lead the FCC now than Rosenworcel, given her emphasis on “closing the homework gap,” Lujan said. “It’s important” there be permanent leadership at the FCC and NTIA for the administration to achieve its broadband goals.

Biden told reporters he hadn’t “had a chance yet to go over the details” of the Republicans’ counteroffer and “we're going to meet sometime next week, and we'll see if we can move that.” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki earlier noted some concerns with the new counterproposal and said the administration will continue talks during the Senate recess next week so “there is a clear direction on how to advance” a package once the chamber returns June 7. The House returns June 14.

Lawmakers filed additional broadband bills Thursday. Senate Communications ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., led the Rural Connectivity Advancement Program Act, which would allocate 10% of FCC spectrum auction “net proceeds” for broadband spending. The measure would require the FCC to spend the money on broadband in “high-cost rural areas” in a “technology-neutral manner.” Capito and Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., refiled the Broadband Parity Act, which would direct the FCC to coordinate with other federal agencies to establish a baseline level of service for federally supported broadband services.