News
Adam Cassady has been appointed as acting administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
The former chief of staff for FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington has been appointed to serve as acting administrator of the NTIA.
The appointment, made by President Donald Trump earlier this week, promotes Adam Cassady to Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
Little known about Cassady
A short biography, posted on the NTIA’s website, says Cassady holds a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.
“Prior to joining the FCC, Cassady co-founded a technology firm focused on delivering enterprise machine learning solutions,” Cassady’s NTIA biography stated.
Cassady is also a graduate from The Ohio State University, the NTIA’s website stated.
“Most recently, Mr. Cassady served as Chief of Staff to Commissioner Simington, and prior to that as Commissioner Simington’s Senior Legal Advisor, managing a variety of telecommunications and technology portfolios,” Cassady’s biography reported.
Nomination hearing scheduled for Arielle Roth
Meanwhile, Cassady’s appointment comes as the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation prepares to convene a nomination hearing for Arielle Roth on Friday, March 27.
If confirmed by the Senate, Roth would take the title of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
Roth was first nominated back in February.
She once served as director of telecommunications policy for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been vocal in support of Roth.
“Arielle led my legislative and oversight efforts on communications and broadband policy with integrity, creativity, and dedication,” Cruz stated in Feburary. “She has fought to defend the taxpayer, free speech, and kids online.”
Cruz also said Roth would work well with President Donald Trump and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick “in their mission to advance government efficiency, economic growth, and innovation.”
Commerce department works on BEAD review
Earlier this month, Lutnick has announced the beginning of a “rigorous review” of the BEAD Program.
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.”
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.
The BEAD Program has been making headlines, as of late.
Evan Feinman served his last day as director of the BEAD Program, on March 14.
Feinman has since spoken out to the media following his departure from the NTIA, suggesting that he was pressured by Lutnick to increase the role of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite coverage in the BEAD Program above other considerations.
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