July 19, 2026 to July 25, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning ICT, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, social media platforms, digital privacy, AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, Web3 and cryptocurrencies. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Senate Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on Intelligent Networks and AI in Communications: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media is scheduled to hold an open hearing July 30, 2026 at 2:00pm (Russell 253) to examine intelligent networks, powering AI, and communications transformation.

Federal Government News

President Trump Expands Ratepayer Protection Pledge for AI Data Centers

President Trump announced an enlarged Ratepayer Protection Pledge, enlisting over 200 utilities, data center firms, cooperatives, and states, aimed at preventing AI-related data center expansion from increasing electricity costs. The pledge now covers 80% of U.S. power delivery and offers consumer protections to 263 million Americans. Notable utility agreements include Google and Oracle in Michigan, with projected savings of billions; Amazon and Alphabet in Indiana, with $1.4 billion returned over 15 years; Southern Company in Georgia freezing base rates through 2029 ($1.7 billion savings); Entergy in Mississippi generating $2 billion in benefits through an Amazon deal; Alliant Energy in Wisconsin covering all data center energy costs, enabling a five-year rate freeze; Entergy in Louisiana ensuring Meta covers all connection expenses; and Crusoe Energy in Texas operating self-powered campuses. The pledge mandates full cost coverage by data center operators and is intended as a private-sector initiative to maintain U.S. AI leadership without transferring costs to consumers.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Federal Commitment to Genesis Mission on AI for Science Surpasses $5 Billion

The administration announced more than $5 billion in federal commitments to expand the Genesis Mission, an initiative leveraging AI for scientific discovery. Launched in November 2025 by executive order, the effort involves over 15 federal agencies, including NASA, HHS, and DOE, contributing research funding, datasets, and facilities. The Department of Energy's American Science and Security Platform will enable shared infrastructure for researchers. Key priority areas include healthcare, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and national security. Goals encompass disease origin discovery, drug development acceleration, improved infrastructure resilience, AI-driven autonomous labs, and quantum computing advancement. The initiative intends to double U.S. R&D output and translate discoveries into operational impact, with further industry and international collaboration announcements anticipated.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

OSTP Director Issues Landmark Report and FY2028 R&D Priorities

OSTP Director Michael Kratsios released 'Science: A New Golden Age,' the first major rethinking of the U.S. science and technology enterprise in over seventy years. The report recommends a four-pillar strategy: individual scientist-centric revitalization, diversified funding, agile research organizations, and U.S. technology dominance via AI, quantum, fusion, lunar exploration, and semiconductors. Initiatives include scaling the Genesis Mission, development of foundation models, and AI-native research institutions. Accompanying the report, Kratsios and OMB Director Russ Vought issued FY2028 R&D priorities, directing agencies to submit implementation plans within 90 days.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

FCC Open Meeting Addresses Spectrum Access, Space Licensing, Broadband Labels, Robocall Mitigation, and Supply Chain Security

The FCC's July 22 Open Commission Meeting featured a five-point agenda. Items included: (1) opening 160 MHz of upper C-band spectrum (3.98–4.2 GHz) for flexible, competitive bidding and next-generation wireless services, with radio altimeter coexistence measures and satellite relocation rebates; (2) revamping space and earth station licensing via a 'licensing assembly line,' replacing part 25 with part 100 rules; (3) modifying broadband label requirements for improved consumer readability and simpler provider compliance; (4) enhancing the Robocall Mitigation Database integrity and call authentication proposals to deter unlawful calls; (5) tightening national security in equipment authorization by closing component and supply chain loopholes, enforcing FCC ID display in online sales, and refining 'critical infrastructure' definitions. The meeting outlined a transition timeline and regulatory responses to past reconsideration petitions.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FCC Denies Petition for Reconsideration of Regulatory Fee Rule for Space Stations

The FCC issued an Order denying Kinéis's petition to reconsider regulatory fees on authorized, but not yet operational, space stations for FY2025. The Commission restated its methodology, assessing fees for all holders of space station authorizations at the start of the fiscal year, irrespective of operational status, to more accurately distribute regulatory costs and avoid burdening operational entities alone. The decision rejected alternatives proposed by Kinéis and confirmed that waivers or reductions can be sought only under extraordinary circumstances. The ruling maintains the current regulatory fee structure governing space and earth station oversight.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026

Bill 4448, the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026, moved forward in the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, ordered reported with a substitute amendment. The bill focuses on expediting permitting processes for broadband infrastructure deployment.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act

Bill 4691, the Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act, passed committee review without amendment. The bill addresses emergency management and coordination of communications infrastructure during disasters.

Sources: www.congress.gov

A bill to establish consumer transparency and protection requirements for AI chatbots

Bill 5117, focused on establishing consumer transparency and protection regulations for AI chatbots, was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sources: www.congress.gov

A bill to authorize CISA apprenticeship & cybersecurity training for veterans

Bill 5067 proposes authorizing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director to establish an apprenticeship program and pilot cybersecurity training for veterans and transitioning Armed Forces members; referred to Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Sources: www.congress.gov

A bill to direct President to accelerate GPS modernization and system resilience

Bill 9880 directs the President to fast-track modernization of the Global Positioning System enterprise, including GPS III satellite deployment, new L1C and L5 signals, and improved control systems; referred to Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Verizon lifts annual forecasts, signs $1 billion fiber deal with Google: Verizon announced a $1 billion fiber agreement with Google and raised its annual financial outlook following new mobile subscriber growth.
• Trump expands a voluntary pledge to protect consumers from high utility bills from AI data centers: The administration broadened the AI data center pledge, with utilities and tech firms agreeing to shield ratepayers from infrastructure cost increases.
• Trump pledge on data center power supplies draws skepticism: Critics question enforceability and potential outcomes of Trump’s pledge that AI data center operators cover energy costs without passing the burden to consumers.
• Trump set to expand power cost pledge on data centers: Trump administration prepares to widen its promise requiring data center operators to bear all power supply expenses for AI centers.
• He Ran a Strip Club. Now He Wants to Build California’s Biggest Data Center.: A strip club owner is seeking approval for what could become California’s largest AI-driven data center project.
• Illinois Changes Tack on Data Centers: Illinois Governor Pritzker pursues new strategies on tax incentives and regulation for data center development.
• Taiwan to slow mobile internet in civil defence drills as China threat grows: Taiwan will throttle mobile internet in upcoming civil defense exercises amid rising tensions with mainland China.
• The surveillance camera on your street corner: lawful spying or constitutionally problematic?: An overview of the debate over surveillance camera deployment and legal concerns in U.S. urban environments.

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