Olivia Trustee pledges to strengthen spectrum policy, broadband coordination and consumer protections at FCC hearing

Olivia Trustee, President Trump’s nominee to be a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, appeared before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and promised to focus on spectrum policy, broadband coordination, and consumer protections if confirmed.

Trustee recounted nearly 20 years of telecommunications policy work on both the Commerce Committee and the Armed Services Committee and said she supports: (1) expanding access to high‑speed Internet; (2) protecting consumers from illegal robocalls; (3) strengthening the security of the nation’s communications networks; and (4) restoring U.S. leadership on next‑generation communications technologies.

Why it matters: The FCC oversees spectrum management, the Universal Service Fund (USF), and broadcast and media rules that affect broadband deployment, local news ecosystems and national security. The committee focused on how the FCC should coordinate with other agencies—particularly the Department of Defense and NTIA—on mid‑band spectrum and on preserving the objectives of the BEAD broadband funding program.

Key commitments and exchanges - Spectrum and auction authority: Trustee told senators she would support restoring the FCC’s auction authority and establishing a clear mid‑band spectrum pipeline to catalyze investment and deployment. She backed inventorying federal spectrum to identify opportunities for commercial use (noting some uses would be classified and would require appropriate handling).

- BEAD and BEAD‑FCC coordination: Multiple senators asked how the FCC should coordinate its programs with NTIA’s BEAD implementation to avoid duplication or overbuilding. Trustee said the FCC and NTIA need constant contact and interagency coordination so taxpayer dollars are targeted to unserved areas and not duplicated.

- Universal Service Fund and E‑Rate: Trustee described USF and the E‑Rate program as cornerstones of connectivity policy and said she would work with Congress to identify a predictable funding mechanism for long‑term sustainability, including consideration of contribution and distribution reforms and performance metrics.

- Robocalls and AI: Trustee supported stronger enforcement and proactive blocking measures to stop illegal robocallers, and she said the FCC should explore using artificial intelligence to detect and curb fraud and to secure networks.

- Media ownership and independence concerns: Senators asked about recent actions by the FCC chair regarding broadcast investigations and editorial decisions. Trustee said she would be guided by the law and the record, that she believes the First Amendment is paramount, and that the FCC should not be used for partisan investigations.

- Consumer and regional concerns: Trustee committed to visit states with acute connectivity challenges (including Alaska) to understand local needs, and she pledged to work with senators on Alaska‑specific programs such as the Alaska Connect Fund.

Context and background Senator Roger Wicker introduced Trustee and praised her staff work on spectrum, maps and legislation to direct broadband funds. Senators from both parties questioned her about agency independence, for‑cause removal litigation, and the FCC’s role in international spectrum coordination (including the World Radiocommunication Conference). Trustees’ experience on both Commerce and Armed Services staff was framed as an asset for bridging national‑security and commercial interests.

Provenance: Transcript excerpts cited below support Trustee’s prepared remarks and exchanges with multiple senators on spectrum inventory, BEAD coordination, auction authority, USF, robocalls and media‑independence concerns.