Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced on March 9 a hearing titled “Securing U.S. Leadership of Communications Technology.” The hearing is scheduled for March 18 at 2:00 PM ET in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The upcoming hearing will address the United States’ role in shaping global communications policy ahead of the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27), which will take place in Shanghai, China. According to Guthrie and Hudson, “To compete, innovate, and succeed in the 21st century, the United States must lead the development and deployment of cutting-edge digital devices and services. Despite taking place in Shanghai, China, in 2027, the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) is a critical opportunity to pursue American interests and shape global communications policy. Constructive, bipartisan discussions, such as next week’s hearing, will help inform Congress on the challenges and opportunities ahead, in order to develop a unified vision for WRC-27.”
David Cavossa, President of the Commercial Space Federation (CSF), is scheduled to testify before the subcommittee. In his prepared remarks submitted to Congress for this hearing, Cavossa said that “the U.S. commercial space industry is growing rapidly and is critical to national security, economic development, exploration, and scientific research and development.” He emphasized that it is important for the United States delegation to WRC-27 to deliver a strong message supporting American interests.
Cavossa said that unlike U.S. wireless carriers, commercial space companies are inherently global in nature and depend on efficient spectrum rules worldwide to innovate effectively. He noted that over 80 percent of WRC-27’s agenda focuses on space matters with significant implications for U.S. operators’ ability to deploy globally.
He also highlighted concerns about outdated technical assumptions used by international bodies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), stating that these rules could hinder innovation if not updated. Cavossa urged adoption of modern regulatory frameworks both domestically—where agencies like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are already working toward modernization—and internationally through active participation at WRC-27.
The hearing will be open to both public attendance and press coverage with livestreaming available online at energycommerce.house.gov.
