The Claim

Launched the FCC’s “Build American Agenda,” expanding wireless competition and accelerating high-speed infrastructure build-out.

The Claim, Unpacked

What is literally being asserted?

That the administration launched an FCC initiative called the “Build American Agenda,” and that this initiative expanded wireless competition and accelerated high-speed infrastructure deployment.

What is being implied but not asserted?

That the president directed this FCC initiative. That wireless competition has measurably increased as a result. That infrastructure build-out has measurably accelerated as a result. That these are completed outcomes, not announced intentions.

What is conspicuously absent?

That the actual name is “Build America Agenda,” not “Build American Agenda” — a minor but telling detail suggesting the claim writers did not closely check the initiative’s name. That the Build America Agenda was announced on July 2, 2025 — more than five months into the administration — and its major components (spectrum auctions, pole attachment rule changes) were still in the proposal or rulemaking stage as of January 2026. That no new spectrum auctions had been completed. That the U.S. wireless market is an oligopoly of three major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) plus a few smaller players, and no FCC action in 2025 changed the competitive structure. That the “Delete, Delete, Delete” deregulatory initiative — a key pillar — included eliminating net neutrality rules and copper retirement protections that some argue benefit consumers. That Item 132 already claims credit for the spectrum component of the same FCC agenda, making this item partially duplicative.

Padding Analysis: Overlap with Item 132

Item 132 claims credit for “expanded spectrum access through FCC action.” Item 133 claims credit for the broader “Build America Agenda,” of which spectrum access is one of four pillars. The two items describe overlapping aspects of the same FCC policy framework under Chairman Carr. While Item 133 is broader than Item 132 (encompassing infrastructure, regulatory reform, and satellite policy in addition to spectrum), the spectrum component is double-counted across both items. This is not pure padding — Item 133 adds the infrastructure and deregulatory dimensions — but there is meaningful overlap.

Evidence Assessment

Established Facts

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the “Build America Agenda” on July 2, 2025, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The agenda comprised four pillars: (1) unleashing high-speed infrastructure through modernized permitting and pole attachment rules, (2) freeing up spectrum to increase competition and lower prices, (3) expanding America’s space economy through accelerated satellite licensing, and (4) modernizing FCC operations through the “Delete, Delete, Delete” deregulatory initiative. The FCC’s July 24, 2025 Open Meeting voted on pole attachment rule revisions, copper retirement acceleration, and deletion of more than 40 legacy rules. [^133-a1]

The FCC eliminated or proposed eliminating 1,108 rules and regulations in 2025, cutting nearly 135,000 words and 312 pages from the Code of Federal Regulations. This included 41 net neutrality rules and requirements adopted under the Biden administration, totaling 2,991 words. The “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative, launched March 12, 2025, solicited public input on “unnecessary” FCC rules and targeted legacy regulations covering telegraph service, rabbit ear antennas, and phone booths, alongside more substantive deregulatory actions. [^133-a2]

The OBBBA restored the FCC’s spectrum auction authority on July 4, 2025, and mandated an 800 MHz spectrum pipeline by 2034. This included at least 100 MHz in the Upper C-band by July 2027 and 200 MHz of federal spectrum by July 2029. However, as of January 20, 2026, no new spectrum auctions had been completed. The first auction (AWS-3) was scheduled for June 2, 2026. Congress, not the FCC or the president, restored the auction authority through the reconciliation process. [^133-a3]

Strong Inferences

The U.S. wireless market remained a three-carrier oligopoly in 2025, with no structural change in competitive dynamics. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon continued to dominate the market following the 2020 T-Mobile/Sprint merger that reduced the number of national carriers from four to three. No new national wireless carrier entered the market in 2025. The FCC’s spectrum proceedings, when completed, would distribute licenses through auction to existing market participants — potentially reinforcing the oligopoly structure rather than expanding competition. [^133-a4]

The Build America Agenda’s infrastructure acceleration claims are forward-looking, not outcome-verified. Revised pole attachment rules were proposed but not finalized as permanent rules. Copper retirement acceleration benefits carriers (by reducing legacy network maintenance costs) but does not necessarily accelerate new high-speed deployment — it accelerates the retirement of old infrastructure. Streamlined environmental review for cell towers removes regulatory protections but does not compel carriers to build. As of January 2026, no measurable acceleration in infrastructure build-out had been documented as a result of these proceedings. [^133-a5]

The deregulatory component of the Build America Agenda includes actions that may harm consumers. The elimination of net neutrality rules removes protections against ISP throttling, paid prioritization, and blocking. The acceleration of copper retirement removes requirements that telecom companies ensure suitable high-speed alternatives before shutting down copper networks. The removal of bulk billing restrictions allows ISPs to bundle broadband costs into rent, reducing consumer choice. While these actions reduce regulatory burden on carriers, their consumer impact is mixed at best. [^133-a6]

The White House claim misstates the initiative’s name. The FCC’s initiative is called the “Build America Agenda,” not the “Build American Agenda.” The White House claim uses “Build American Agenda” — a small but notable inaccuracy suggesting distance between the claim’s authors and the actual FCC proceedings. [^133-a7]

What the Evidence Shows

The Build America Agenda is real. It was announced by FCC Chairman Carr on July 2, 2025, and the FCC did take regulatory actions consistent with its four pillars throughout 2025. The regulatory cleanup alone — 1,108 rules eliminated or proposed for elimination — represents significant administrative activity.

But the claim’s characterization of outcomes is premature. “Expanding wireless competition” is not supported by evidence — the U.S. wireless market remained a three-carrier oligopoly with no new entrants and no structural competitive change. Spectrum proceedings that could theoretically increase competition (by making more spectrum available for auction) had not been completed. “Accelerating high-speed infrastructure build-out” is similarly unverified — pole attachment rule revisions were proposed but not finalized, and copper retirement acceleration benefits carriers more than consumers. The deregulatory actions included removing consumer protections (net neutrality, bulk billing restrictions) alongside genuinely obsolete rules (telegraph regulations, phone booth standards).

The claim also partially overlaps with Item 132, which credits the same administration for the spectrum component of the same FCC agenda. Together, these two items extract two “wins” from a single policy framework that had not yet produced its promised outcomes.

The Bottom Line

The Build America Agenda exists and represents a real policy initiative. The FCC under Chairman Carr did announce it, did take regulatory actions consistent with it, and did eliminate a substantial number of rules. Credit for launching the agenda is legitimate.

But the claimed outcomes — expanded wireless competition and accelerated infrastructure build-out — are announcements dressed as accomplishments. No new spectrum had been auctioned. No new wireless competitors had entered the market. No measurable infrastructure acceleration had been documented. The deregulatory “accomplishments” include removing consumer protections alongside genuinely obsolete rules. And the presidential attribution is complicated by the FCC’s status as an independent agency whose regulatory proceedings follow their own administrative timeline, not the White House’s political calendar. This is an agenda that was launched, not an outcome that was delivered.