UPDATE In December, GOP Whip John Thune (SD), in his role as Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, launched an effort to review numerous broadband programs spanning several federal agencies. He said the goal was to ensure previously authorized broadband funding is being used efficiently to protect taxpayer dollars, Inside Towers reported.
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, responded to Thune’s inquiry last week, highlighting key association issues concerning broadband deployment funds. Those included favoring a technology-neutral approach to grant disbursement, ensuring that “Buy America” provisions don’t burden NATE members, and concerns about the funding challenge process.
NATE believes NTIA’s broadband deployment grant requirements favor fiber, rather than a technology neutral approach. “NTIA has not emphasized the deployment advantages, geographic reach, and cost savings associated with fixed wireless deployments and other wireless technologies,” writes the association in its reply. That’s why NATE joined with other associations, including WIA, CTIA and RWA to push for a technology-neutral approach, it explains. NATE urged Thune and other Senators to ask NTIA to “encourage technology-neutral approaches through clarifying guidance.”
NATE believes that Congress or NTIA should remove the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program’s reporting requirements on subgrantees who don’t use union labor, saying it’s “not practical” for its members and favors “certain providers.”
Finally, the association encourages Congress to address a “lack of clarity” in BEAD’s “Notice of Funding Opportunity” challenge process. NATE seeks a detailed, step-by-step description of the challenge process.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
Reader Interactions