News
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has launched what he calls a “rigorous review” of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Commerce, has announced the beginning of a “rigorous review” of the BEAD Program.
The announcement, made last week on the Department of Commerce’s website, explained that the commerce department will be looking for “ways to cut government red tape that slows down infrastructure construction.”
The review was announced with a statement from Lutnick, posted on the commerce department’s website.
“In 2021, Congress created the BEAD Program to expand Americans’ access to high-speed internet,” Lutnick wrote. “But, years later, because of the prior administration’s woke mandates, favoritism towards certain technologies, and burdensome regulations, the program has not connected a single person to the internet and is in dire need of a readjustment.”
He also said his review intends to result in “ripping out the Biden Administration’s pointless requirements.”
Originally passed in 2021, the BEAD Program is a massive $42.45 billion component of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“We will work with states and territories to quickly get rid of the delays and the waste,” Lutnick’s statement read. “Thereafter we will move quickly to implementation in order to get households connected.”
Lutnick’s statement continued.
“Under the revamped BEAD Program, all Americans will receive the benefit of the bargain that Congress intended,” he wrote. “We’re going to deliver high-speed internet access, and we will do it efficiently and effectively at the lowest cost to taxpayers.”
Meanwhile, FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez issued a statement last week criticizing Lutnick’s announcement.
Gomez, a Democrat, said the program was established “to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to high-quality broadband, with affordability as a top priority.”
“This has become even more urgent following the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program last year, which left millions of households without essential support for education, career opportunities, and healthcare access,” Gomez stated. “We must remain committed to prioritizing affordability and equal access. After all, BEAD without equity is just BAD.”
Previously, the ACP provided eligible households $30 per month towards internet service. A benefit of $75 per month was also available to those who qualified on Tribal lands.
Nearly 23 million households nationwide relied on the ACP program to help pay for internet. Households were considered eligible if their income was at or below 200 percent of poverty guidelines set by the government.
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