BEAD Funding Frustrations Show During NTIA Hearing
Republican and Democrat members of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee were far apart during a three and a half-hour plus NTIA oversight hearing on Tuesday. Many of the questions centered on “When will BEAD money reach my state?” and “When will we be able to get shovels in the ground?” There were no easy answers.
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth said two states, Louisiana and Nebraska, “have gotten communities connected through BEAD. Five states have signed agreements with satellite providers.”
Subcommittee Chair Richard Hudson (R-NC) said, “The Biden Administration ran this program for three years but burdened it with onerous regulations that created only confusion and delays.” He noted that last June, “NTIA restructured BEAD, removing many of the Biden burdens. They eliminated technology preferences, unnecessary labor, DEI, and climate requirements.” That change saved more than $20 billion in taxpayer money, he said, referring to the BEAD non-deployment funds.
Subcommittee Ranking member Doris Matsui (D-CA) had a different view. “The American people deserve answers about why the Trump Administration’s spent the past 18 months delaying broadband buildout and canceling funding for states and local communities — all while pressuring them to give up affordability and consumer protections,” she said. “NTIA has repeatedly moved the goalposts, missed its own deadlines, and created uncertainty for states, providers, and the communities waiting to get connected.”
“Today, we are seeing the consequences. Providers are walking away. States are being forced to revisit decisions they already made,” Matsui said.
Full House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), went further, saying NTIA “bullied states and broadband offices to get the job done cheap and quick.”
Roth testified, “NTIA is moving aggressively. Today, nearly every state has received approval.”
Hudson asked when states can expect guidance on how states can use and deploy the non-deployment funds.
“NTIA is results-driven,” Roth replied. “BEAD has been weighed down and we course corrected it. We want to see the same effective outcome with the remaining funding. I think we’re focused on getting the funding right. We’re proceeding cautiously in providing the guidance.” That’s planned for release this summer, Roth said.
Roth replied, “Our goal is to see universal use of BEAD. We expect to see changes. Only about 1 percent” of awards have had these changes, Roth testified.
“We’re committed to ensuring areas that have seen these changes get filled.” Only about a dozen states have seen these changes, she said. “There are multiple reasons why providers back out and we’ve successfully backfilled those locations.”
Roth highlighted the introduction of software to automate the permitting process. “A process that used to be email-based and took 3 to 6 months now takes 48 hours.” She said NTIA is also working with other government partners to expedite the approval process and streamline timelines.
Hudson has said he wants to use some of the remaining non-deployment funds for NextGen 911 upgrades at emergency call centers nationwide, Inside Towers reported. Roth said NTIA has had listening sessions on how to use the money and has provided information on this topic to the committee. She said she’s visited several 911 call centers, most recently in Fairfax, VA and “looks forward to working with you on bipartisan efforts on this issue.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
