News
A new letter urges officials to stay true to prior commitments when it comes to broadband infrastructure builds.
Three organizations, ACA Connects, the Fiber Broadband Association, and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, have come together to urge the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to “stand its ground” when it comes to seeking broadband projects that represent “lasting success.”
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act “could not be clearer” in requiring priority broadband projects to not require rebuilding within several years, according to a new letter signed by the CEO’s of ACA Connects, the Fiber Broadband Association, and NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. The letter, which was delivered to NTIA Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson, said some voices are now calling for the NTIA to reject or weaken initial Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposals submitted by states and territories that outline new fiber deployments capable of facilitating the growth of 5G and other advanced wireless services.
“We urge NTIA to stand its ground. That does not mean requiring the use of BEAD funds exclusively for fiber; it means ‘prioritizing’ fiber projects and maximizing the deployment of fiber networks,” the letter, dated Feb. 2, stated. “Abandoning these goals would not only flout the law but would disserve the public interest, relegating generations to less-capable broadband.”
The CEO’s point to conclusions that were previously reached by the NTIA, namely that end-to-end fiber networks can be updated quickly, with relatively inexpensive network scaling, and that approved networks will be able to facilitate growth in 5G and wireless services.
ACA Connects, a trade organization that represents more than 500 smaller and medium-sized, independent companies that provide broadband, described the BEAD program as a “once-in-a-lifetime investment,” according to Grant Spellmeyer, the organization’s president and CEO.
“We’ve got to get this right,” he was quoted as having said in a release from ACA Connects. “History has taught us it is a mistake to avoid ambitious metrics. If we settle again, it would be detrimental to Americans’ ability to connect to high-quality broadband.”
Click here to view a full copy of the letter, which was also signed by Gary Bolton, president and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, and Shirley Bloomfield, the CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association.
