Two more states — Georgia and Wisconsin — have joined the chorus of those hoping the U.S. Department of Commerce will maintain the BEAD Program as-is, reports Telecompetitor. The two letters were addressed to Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said the Wisconsin legislature did not approve his administration’s request for $750 million in broadband funding to expand high-speed internet because it expected to receive BEAD investments. Thus, failure to receive those funds would mean that there would be no money.
“NTIA should not make any changes that will slow down our states’ already-approved program plans and the tremendous progress we have made in implementing those plans,” reads Evers’ letter. “In BEAD, Congress created a program that gave states the power to create state-specific programs to suit our needs. NTIA must continue to allow states to make the choices that will best allow Wisconsinite’s homes and businesses to get online quickly. Any changes to the BEAD program should be options, not mandates, and any waivers granted by NTIA should be available to every State,” he writes.
Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) writes, “New mandates to drastically alter our state’s BEAD plan will likely slow down our progress, harming the households and businesses that are still awaiting connection.” He asks Lutnick to confirm within 14 days the BEAD suspension has been lifted.
Wisconsin was approved for $1.056 billion and Georgia was slated to get $1.307 billion in BEAD funding, according to Telecompetitor. The list of those asking that BEAD be maintained is growing. It includes missives from Illinois, Nevada, West Virginia, Minnesota and a coalition of 28 other states.
Reader Interactions