Washington, D.C. — As states begin submitting applications for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) called on National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, Alan Davidson, to ensure states are abiding by the law and using resources to achieve universal broadband and connect every American.

BACKGROUND:

• In 2021, Congress provided $65 billion to close the digital divide.  
• NTIA is responsible for administering most of this money, including the $42.45 billion BEAD program, which provides states grant money to award providers to deploy broadband networks in unserved and underserved areas. 
• States are required to submit five-year action plans and initial proposals to NTIA outlining how they plan to use the resources. 
• Unfortunately, some states have claimed they do not have enough funding to achieve universal connectivity, attempted to overbuild or refuse to consider services provided by certain technologies—like fixed wireless—in their proposals, as well as taken steps to regulate broadband rates, which is explicitly prohibited by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).  
• At the committee’s NTIA oversight hearing in May, NTIA Administrator Davidson said the agency “will not approve plans that don't show us how they're going to connect everybody in the state.” 
• Given the concerning proposals from some states, the Chairs called on Administrator Davidson to affirm his commitment to refrain from sending resources to states whose plans would not achieve universal connectivity or would set broadband rates. 

KEY QUOTE:

“Congress provided a record amount of funding for the BEAD program, so it is frustrating to hear states claim that this is not enough money or try to exclude certain technologies that will help them achieve universal connectivity. This massive investment in broadband will not come again, nor should it be necessary. We recognize that serving every unserved household with this money will require making tough choices, but thankfully, a variety of technologies, including fixed wireless and satellite, can help achieve universal connectivity at different costs. Indeed, that is why the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) requires the program to use all available technologies. Thus, if a state is following the law and remaining technology-neutral, there is no excuse for it to assert it lacks sufficient funding to serve every household following this program.”

CLICK HERE to read the full letter. 

CLICK HERE to watch NTIA Assistant Secretary Davidson testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  

ICYMI on July 27, 2023, the committee passed legislation to reauthorize the NTIA to enhance internet services across the country and ensure America continues to be a global communications and technology leader.