January 20, 2023

Rodgers Champions Rural Wireless and Workforce on Podcast

On Thursday, January 19, the latest edition of the OnRadio Podcast was released featuring House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). During her appearance, Rodgers visited with podcast host and former NATE Chairman Jim Tracy and reflected on her presence in the telecommunications space, highlighting the importance of the work the telecommunications workforce does for communities in Washington and nationwide. You can listen to the podcast here.

Rosenworcel Thanks TWIG for Congressional Report Work

On Friday, January 13, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel thanked the Telecommunications Workforce Interagency Group (TWIG) for its important work in building its report to Congress. In a statement, Rosenworcel said that “the FCC stands ready to work with our federal partners, Congress, workforce representatives, educational institutions, and telecommunications companies to ensure equity, quality, and safety in our communications infrastructure workforce.” You can access the report and read more here.

Rosenworcel Suggests Reexamination of Foreign Carrier Vetting

On Wednesday, January 17 at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel raised the idea of reexamining how the U.S. vets the national security risks posed by foreign carriers. “There’s nothing in our rules that requires the FCC or national security agencies to generally reassess a foreign carrier’s authorization to provide service, and that’s in stark contrast to most other authorizations granted by the FCC.” You can watch the event here.

U.S. Department of Labor Seeks Nominations for Membership to
National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
 

On Thursday, January 19, U.S. DOL-OSHA announced it is seeking nominations to fill six membership vacancies on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. The 12-member group advises the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters related to administering the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

OSHA invites nominations to fill the following vacancies: two public representatives; one management representative; one labor representative; one occupational safety professional representative; and one occupational health professional representative. Committee members are appointed by the Secretary of Labor and serve two-year staggered terms, unless a member becomes unable to serve, resigns, ceases to be qualified to serve, or is removed by the Secretary.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit nominations to the Federal eRulemaking Portal here by the deadline of February 2, 2023.