News
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick clarified he intends to “hew exactly to the statute” of Congress’s $42.45 billion broadband program.
By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick clarified Tuesday that he intends to “hew exactly to the statute” of the $42.45 billion federal broadband program.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., pressed Lutnick during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing for answers regarding the administration’s plans for unspent funds in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Moran sought clarification on what would happen to money not used for infrastructure construction, commonly referred to as “non-deployment” funds.
“We are going to spend that money,” Lutnick testified. “That money that you have appropriated.”
Moran asked Lutnick to further clarify the matter. “That money will be spent on the broadband deployment across the country, true?” Moran asked.
Lutnick confirmed the money will be spent “according to the statute, of course.”
“We are going to hew exactly to the statute”
When Moran pressed whether the statute dictates the money be spent specifically on broadband deployment, Lutnick said he did not have the text in front of him.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. (seen left)
“We are going to hew closely, or exactly, actually the easiest way to say this — we are going to hew exactly to the statute,” Lutnick said.
Lutnick also addressed suggestions that the leftover funds would be returned to the Department of the Treasury. “That is not the plan,” he said.
Despite the testimony, administration officials have continued to claim that an estimated $21 billion in unspent BEAD dollars represents taxpayer savings.
On Monday, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator Arielle Roth said total “savings” for taxpayers are now estimated at $21 billion following the “Benefit of the Bargain” reforms announced last June.
However, Roth has not yet clarified how that money — which remains appropriated by Congress for broadband spending — represents true savings for taxpayers if it is not returned to the Treasury.
Get this news in your inbox. Subscribe to the Broadband Communities newsletter!
