The Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents telecom workers, condemned the NTIA policy change for the $42 billion BEAD program. Inside Towers reported a big change was removing the fiber preference in favor of a technology neutral approach for broadband builds. CWA calls that limiting funds for “future-proof fiber deployments” while increasing funds for the deployment of “inferior technologies” such as satellite and unlicensed fixed wireless access.
“[T]he NTIA has put the interests of a few billionaires and satellite companies ahead of millions of Americans in rural communities and thousands of workers. Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s attack on approved broadband projects undermines the bipartisan work of the U.S. Congress and the state governments that have invested significant resources in carefully developing programs to bring high-quality broadband and good jobs that meet the needs of their unique communities,” CWA said in a statement.
“CWA members know that fiber is the best broadband technology of today and tomorrow,” the union continued. “A high-quality fiber network is the financially responsible choice compared to expensive and unreliable satellite service or fixed wireless. The NTIA’s policy change confuses upfront costs with long-term value.”
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