Committee Markup on Emerging Technologies
JAMES CZERNIAWSKI, Head of Emerging Tech Policy, Consumer Choice Center
Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
United States House of Representatives
September 1st, 2026
Dear Chair Bilrakis, Ranking Member Schakowsky, and Members of the Subcommittee:
On behalf of the Consumer Choice Center, we write to thank you for holding this markup today. At the Consumer Choice Center, we have argued on behalf of consumers around the country for the United States’ continued leadership in emerging technologies. We believe that the key to U.S. leadership lies not just in the capabilities being developed and deployed by frontier labs, but also in critical contributions from open-source models. We write to express our support for H.R. 10152, the Open-Source AI Leadership Act, introduced by Representative Evans, and H.R. 8255, the Satellite and Telecommunications (SAT) Streamlining Act, by Representatives Guthrie and Pallone. We believe these legislative proposals are important components of building on U.S. global leadership in emerging technologies.
Modernizing the federal government is a massive effort that will require leveraging all the benefits that AI can bring to bear. Frontier labs continue to push the boundaries of capabilities; open-source models offer advantages in transparency, cost-efficiency, and adaptability. Where it makes sense, the government should integrate open-source AI in its own operations to improve agency workflows and introduce new competition that disrupts long-term vendor lock-in effects, which encourages greater value and return on investment of taxpayer dollars to support agency efforts. The reality is there is plenty of room for both proprietary frontier models and open-source alternatives to coexist, whether that’s in the government use case or even in the private sector.
We understand and appreciate the consideration being placed on national security when examining foreign adversary models. It’s entirely fair for the U.S. government to offer its evaluation of those models, their potential risks, security vulnerabilities, and potential pitfalls of data being exposed to those actors. However, we feel it is important to reiterate that the government action here must strictly remain focused on offering that risk evaluation and information sharing. Congress should avoid using those assessments as a pretext for broader regulatory action, such as blanket restrictions, bans, or other policies that may inadvertently undermine open-source technology more broadly and risk the country’s global leadership.
The SAT Streamlining Act is an effort to address an ever-present issue: the digital divide. Having access to affordable, high-speed internet can help unlock economic and educational opportunities. Emerging technologies like low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband can play a critical role in closing that gap and bring more options to both rural Americans and unserved communities.
The SAT Streamlining Act creates that opportunity by modernizing the Federal Communications Commission satellite licensing process by establishing clear deadlines and reducing regulatory bottlenecks for satellite operators. By incorporating a deem-granted provision, it shifts the mindset to a yes mentality unless the regulator can identify an actual problem with an application within a reasonable timeline. Predictable timelines mean a faster path to rolling out next-generation satellite networks.
Whether the discussion is about encouraging the adoption of open-source software or streamlining LEO satellite processes at the FCC, removing unnecessary internal and regulatory barriers is essential to keeping the country at the forefront of global technological leadership. We stand ready to work with the committee and be a resource as it considers legislation that ensures such outcomes.
Sincerely,
James Czerniawski
Head of Emerging Technology Policy
Consumer Choice Center