Thune Calls for 21st Century Updates to Communications and Internet Policy in Speech to Free State Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today delivered a speech to the Free State Foundation on the need for policymakers to update communications and Internet policy to meet the needs of an evolving digital world. Thune delivered the following remarks as prepared: Video […]
Bipartisan Group Presses For Floor Action on Permanent Internet Access Tax Moratorium Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Co-Chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Internet Caucus are urging House and Senate Leadership to pass bipartisan legislation before the August recess to permanently eliminate new state and local taxes on Internet access. In a letter from Reps. Anna G. Eshoo (D-California) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), as well as Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) […]
Thune Lauds FCC Rural Call Completion Enforcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement today on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) announcement regarding additional enforcement actions designed to combat call completion issues in rural areas: “I applaud the FCC for taking action to investigate and […]
Thune Calls on Congress to Permanently Stop Taxes on Internet Access
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and member of the Senate Finance Committee, took to the Senate floor today to call on Congress to pass his Internet Tax Freedom Forever (ITFA) Act, which would make permanent the expiring provision preventing Internet access from […]
Bipartisan Senate Leaders: FCC Must Maximize Spectrum Auction Participation and Revenue
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Charles Schumer (D-New York), John Thune (R-South Dakota), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler urging him “to maximize the amount of spectrum that is reintroduced into the market, as well as the revenue that will be realized in the […]
Senate Republican Leaders to FCC: Leave Internet Open and Free
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican leaders, including Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas), Conference Chairman and Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee John Thune (R-South Dakota), Policy Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Conference Vice Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), today sent a letter to […]
Thune/Klobuchar Lead Letter to FCC on Rural Broadband
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) led 42 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Thomas Wheeler calling on the FCC to implement a policy change that permits Universal Service […]
Thune Statement on NTIA’s Internet Governance Announcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announcement that it plans to transition certain Internet oversight to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN): “The U.S. helped create the […]
Thune Statement on Chairman Wheeler’s Announcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler’s announcement today: “Chairman Wheeler’s announcement today is a bit of déjà vu and is an unnecessary overreaction to the D.C. Circuit striking down most […]
Thune State of the Net Conference Remarks
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered the following prepared remarks at today’s State of the Net Conference in Washington, D.C.: Thank you, Roger. As the co-chairman of the Congressional Internet Caucus, I’m proud to be here at the 10th annual State […]