House Energy and Commerce subcommittee examines AI's role in communications, warns of infrastructure and policy gaps
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Summary
Witnesses and members discussed the growing use of artificial intelligence across communications networks, raised concerns about U.S. competitiveness with China, and criticized federal delays to broadband and digital equity programs that members said are needed to support AI deployment.
The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee opened a hearing on artificial intelligence in communications and technology industries, where members, industry executives and academics urged faster deployment of broadband infrastructure, stronger workforce and digital-equity efforts, and a national policy framework to preserve U.S. leadership.
The hearing focused on how AI is being applied across communications networks and what federal actions are needed to support continued development. Rep. Doris Matsui, the subcommittee's ranking member, said that universal connectivity and funding for digital-equity programs are essential to ensure all Americans can access and use AI technologies.
"Universal connectivity is the building block for universal AI access," Rep. Doris Matsui said, urging full implementation of federal broadband programs she described as critical to reaching tens of millions who lack high-speed Internet. Matsui specifically criticized the administration's handling of Congress's broadband funding, saying it had put a $42,000,000,000 broadband deployment program "on ice" and that recent federal moves threatened nearly $3,000,000,000 in digital-equity grants.
Chip Pickering, chief executive officer of Encompass, described the committee's broad jurisdiction over elements of the AI stack — from energy and data centers to fiber and wireless connectivity — and argued Congress must create a predictable national framework to sustain private investment. "We are now in a race against China to win the future of an AI economy," Pickering said, calling for policies that maximize competition among AI models to drive investment and innovation.
Members and witnesses highlighted several recurring themes:
- Infrastructure needs: Witnesses warned that rising data storage and compute demands tied to large AI models will put greater strain on data centers and require expanded fiber and wireless capacity. Pickering said that both the "AI infrastructure" side of data centers and the model-development side must be supported.
- Federal funding and program delays: Multiple members criticized the administration for slowing or halting implementation of congressional broadband investments and digital-equity grants. Matsui said states were "at the 1-yard line" on deploying broadband under the bipartisan infrastructure law but were blocked by the administration.
- National policy and guardrails: Members from both parties said the U.S. needs clear, measured policy to encourage innovation while addressing risks. The ranking member argued that federal guardrails should not be delayed while states continue to experiment with rules to protect consumers from AI harms; other members warned against heavy-handed regulation that could stifle innovation.
- Workforce and inclusion: Lawmakers stressed that bringing networks to homes is not enough; people also need training to use AI tools. Matsui invoked the Digital Equity Act as a tool to teach seniors, veterans and people with disabilities the skills to benefit from online services and to protect themselves from scams.
No formal committee votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided. The session moved from members' opening remarks into witness testimony; witnesses present for opening statements included Chip Pickering (Encompass), Ronnie Vasishta (Nvidia), Jim Shea (DeepSig Incorporated), and Assad Ramzanali (Vanderbilt University).
The subcommittee said members' opening statements will be entered into the record and that witnesses would each have five minutes for opening remarks, followed by a round of questions. The hearing continued with witness testimony and member questioning.
The hearing combined policy-level discussion about national competitiveness and guardrails with practical concerns about broadband deployment, data-center capacity and digital-skills training needed to broaden access to AI's benefits.
