Why It Matters

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology is scheduled on July 22 to examine how to protect America's telecommunications infrastructure from foreign cyberattacks and expand broadband access as the government continues to grapple with major vulnerabilities left unresolved after a significant breach from the Salt Typhoon hack. The hearing comes as concerns mount that major telecom carriers have not fully addressed security gaps exposed by that attack, while broadband expansion initiatives are unfolding with uneven progress across the country.

The timing reflects growing pressure from lawmakers and oversight committees. Last spring, Sen. Cantwell demanded that AT&T and Verizon provide documentation proving they had fixed Salt Typhoon vulnerabilities. Both companies reportedly failed to deliver that proof. Meanwhile, Senate Commerce Committee experts have concluded that the attack has not been fully remediated from telecommunications networks, according to a Reuters report citing the committee's findings. The unresolved security crisis frames the hearing's network protection policy agenda.

Separately, early rollouts of broadband connectivity through federal funding have shown mixed results. Nebraska has emerged as one of the first states to successfully connect actual households through Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD)- funded infrastructure, a bright spot in what has been a slow push to improve connectivity in underserved regions.

The Big Picture

The hearing focuses on protecting communications networks and improving connectivity, two separate but interconnected policy challenges. Network protection policy remains urgent given the Salt Typhoon aftermath. Improving connectivity legislation and broadband expansion remain long-term priorities, though implementation has proven choppy.

The subcommittee's jurisdiction covers both cybersecurity concerns and infrastructure investment, making this hearing a natural forum for examining how federal policy can address vulnerabilities while incentivizing carriers and smaller providers to expand service.

The Lobbying

The hearing is drawing attention from multiple industries with stakes in telecommunications policy. Lumen Technologies has been actively lobbying on federal cybersecurity policies, implementation of the FCC Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Program, and broadband expansion policies that streamline permitting and rights of way. The company has filed lobbying disclosures consistently through the first half of 2026, with quarterly spending of $740,000.

Fox Corp. has maintained substantial lobbying activity on communications and technology issues, having spent over $5 million across 2025 and into 2026 on matters including spectrum policy and Section 230 reforms. Other industry players, including Custom Biometric Wearables and Kymeta Corp., have registered lobbying efforts focused on defense communications and connectivity solutions, signaling broader interest in how federal policy shapes the telecom landscape.

The Hearing

The hearing will be convened by the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, which operates within the broader structure of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Brett Guthrie. The specific subcommittee handling the session is chaired by Richard Hudson Jr., with Rick Allen serving as Vice Chair and Doris Matsui as Ranking Member.

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