Digital Beat

States to DC: "No More BEAD Delays"

Over 100 Bipartisan State Legislators Send Letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has indicated he’ll make fundamental changes to the $42 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. These changes, such as giving a stronger preference for satellite internet, could force states to restart their broadband grant programs.

On April 3, a group of 115 bipartisan state legislators from 28 states sent Secretary Lutnick a letter requesting that any BEAD changes be optional rather than mandatory. Mandatory changes could upend the rules of state broadband programs, many of which are nearing completion, and delay deployment by a year or more. States, they argue, should have final say over state programs. Read the full letter below.

The authors are still accepting signatures. State legislators can add their names through this form or by emailing dgarner@benton.org.

April 3, 2025

TO:
Secretary Howard Lutnick
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20230

CC:
Adam Cassady, NTIA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Administrator
Arielle Roth, Nominee, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications & Information
Members of Congress

RE: BEAD and DE Implementation

Dear Secretary Lutnick,

Congratulations on your confirmation as Secretary of Commerce. We look forward to working with you to bring fast, reliable, affordable broadband to every last one of our constituents.

We, the undersigned group of 115 bipartisan state legislators representing 28 states, respectfully request that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) allow state Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity (DE) programs to proceed without delay. If NTIA changes program conditions, we ask that those changes be optional rather than mandatory. We are concerned that mandatory changes will undermine state authority over state programs (a central feature of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), undo our BEAD and DE plans, and delay broadband deployment by a year or more.

After three years of preparation, we are just now beginning to implement our BEAD and DE programs. And, so far, it is going very well. For BEAD, initial grant rounds have resulted in nearly universal coverage, widespread competition, and substantial winnings for local and regional providers. For example, Louisiana has achieved 95% fiber coverage, 3% wireless/cable, and 2% satellite; Nevada achieved 83% fiber coverage, 7% wireless/cable, and 9% satellite; and Delaware achieved 100% fiber coverage. These are incredible results, and the flexibility to prioritize fiber while still incorporating wireless and satellite technologies will bring our constituents high-quality, affordable service at reasonable costs. For DE, our states are creating programs that address the full range of digital needs—skills for agriculture, healthcare, personal finance and entrepreneurship, online safety, cybersecurity, and efficient use of government programs. Together, BEAD and DE will ensure that all people reap the full benefit of connectivity.

As state legislators, we understand that no program is perfect. Indeed, we welcome some changes. However, we ask that you defer to our states about which changes we adopt. The federal approach to broadband programs—most recently exemplified by the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund—has created obstacles that we are only now overcoming. Let us not repeat mistakes of the past.

One in four rural residents do not have access to broadband. But they are about to. State BEAD and DE programs have been designed by and for state stakeholders, and they are poised to bring high-speed, reliable, affordable, and scalable broadband to virtually every last one of our constituents. Please respect the results of this process. At this late stage, major changes would undermine our work and delay deployment by years. The health, safety, education, and economic success of our communities depend on these programs. We ask that you tread cautiously when changing them.

Thank you,

Rep. Louis Riggs (R-MO-05) Vice Chair, Budget Subcommittee on General Administration		Rep. Matt Pierce (D-IN-61) Ranking Member, Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee
Sen. Rachel May (D-NY-48) Chair, Legislative Commission on Rural Resources		Sen. Jane English (R-AR-13) Chair, Education Committee
Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-WA-32) Chair, Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Committee		Rep. Randy Udell (D-WI-47) Member, Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access
Rep. Jeffrey Mursau (R-WI-36) Member, Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access		Rep. Sonya Marie Harper (D-IL-06) Chair, Agriculture & Conservation Committee
Rep. Pam Marsh (D-OR-05) Member, Oregon Broadband Advisory Council		Rep. Jake Johnson (R-NC-113) Deputy Majority Leader
Sen. Bob Duff (D-CT-25) Majority Leader		Sen. Liz Larson (D-SD-10) Senate Minority Leader
Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-NJ-16) Chair, Legislative Oversight Committee		Asm. Angelo Morinello (R-NY-145) Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee
Rep. Willard Haley (R-MO-58) Vice Chair, Agriculture Committee		Rep. J. Eric Ager (D-NC-114) Shadow Chair, Agriculture and Environment Committee
Sen. Melissa Ratcliff (D-WI-16) Ranking Member, Committee on Utilities and Tourism		Rep. Maria Cervania (D-NC-41) Member, Energy and Public Utilities Committee
Sen. Dawn Euer, (D-RI-13) Member, Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans' Affairs		Rep. Cherrish S. Pryor (D-IN-94) Member, Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee
Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-IL-43) Chair, Human Rights Committee		Rep. Dan Miller (D-PA-42) Member, Labor and Industry Committee
Sen. Jana Hughes (R-NE-24) Vice Chair, Education Committee		Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R-MO-61) Member, Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development
Asm. Joe DeStefano (R-NY-03) Ranking Member, Governmental Employees Committee		Asm. Michael Durso (R-NY-09) Minority Ranking Member, Labor Committee
Asm. Phil Ramos (D-NY-06) Deputy Speaker		Rep. Brandon Markosek (D-PA-25) Chair, Housing and Community Development Committee
Rep. Dan Deasy (D-PA-27) Chair, Liquor Control Committee		Sen. Monica R. Martinez (D-NY-04) Chair, Local Government Committee
Asm. Jarett Gandolfo (R-NY-07) Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore		Rep. Alex Burton (D-IN-77) Member, Committee on Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications
Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-TN-51) Member, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee		Rep. Mike Andrade (D-IN-12) Ranking Minority Member, Financial Institutions Committee
Rep. Sheila Stubbs (D-WI-78) Member, Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care		Sen. Dean Murray (R-NY-03) Ranking Member, Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business Committee
Sen. Mario R. Mattera (R-NY-02) Ranking Member, Energy and Telecommunications Committee		Sen. Scott Kawasaki (D-AK-P) Chair, State Affairs Committee
Sen. Josh Boschee (D-ND-44) Senate Assistant Minority Leader		Sen. Anthony H. Palumbo (R-NY-01) Deputy Floor Leader Republican Conference
Rep. Mitch Gore (D-IN-89) Assistant Democratic Whip		Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-IN-01) Assistant Democratic Whip
Rep. Brienne Brown (D-WI-45) Member, Agriculture Committee		Rep. Jerry L. O'Connor (R-WI-60) Chair, Ways and Means Committee
Rep. Mary Isaacson (D-PA-175) Member, House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities		Sen. Blake Johnson (R-AR-21) Chair, Insurance & Commerce Committee
Sen. Wendy DeBoer (D-NE-10) Member, Transportation and Telecommunications Committee		Asm. Steve Stern (D-NY-10) Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee
Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-WI-66) Assembly Minority Leader		Rep. Vincent Miresse (D-WI-71) Member, Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Asm. Rebecca Kassay (D-NY-04) Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee		Rep. Pat Boy (D-IN-09) Former member, LaPorte County Broadband Task Force
Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-IN-32) Ranking Member, House Committee on the Judiciary		Sen. Josh Becker (D-CA-13) Member, Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee
Rep. Brandy L. Pyle (R-ND-22) Chair, Administrative Rules Committee		Rep. Ann Roe (D-WI-44) Member, State Affairs Committee
Rep. Clinton Anderson (D-WI-55) Ranking Member, Local Government Committee		Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-WI-79) Ranking Member, Energy and Utilities Committee
Rep. Tara Johnson (D-WI-96) Member, Agriculture Committee		Rep. Jenna Jacobson (D-WI-50) Ranking Member, Agriculture Committee
Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-WI-20) Ranking Member, Workforce Development, Labor, & Integrated Employment Committee		Rep. Ben DeSmidt (D-WI-65) Member, Science, Technology, and AI Committee
Rep. Jill Billings (D-WI-95) Member, Agriculture Committee		Rep. Mike Bare (D-WI-80) Ranking Member, Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency Committee
Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan (R-NY-60) Senate Minority Whip		Rep. Maureen McCarville (D-WI-42) Member, Energy and Utilities Committee
Rep. Alex Joers (D-WI-81) Ranking member, Small Business Development Committee		Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-WI-15) Ranking Member, Government Operations, Labor, and Economic Development Committee
Sen. Bart Hester (R-AR-33) President Pro Tempore		Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D-AR-08) Member, Insurance and Commerce Committee
Sen. Missy Irvin (R-AR-24) Chair, Public Health, Welfare And Labor Committee		Sen. Terry Rice (R-AR-05) Co-Chair, Joint Performance Review Committee
Rep. Joan Fitzgerald (D-WI-46) Member, Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment Committee		Sen. Dave Wallace (R-AR-19) Vice Chair, Public Health, Welfare And Labor Committee
Rep. Rodney D. Pierce (D-NC-27) Member, Appropriations Committee		Sen. Greg Leding (D-AR-30) Member, Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee
Sen. Kim Hammer (R-AR-16) Chair, Senate Efficiency Committee		Sen. Clarke Tucker (D-AR-14) Vice Chair, Senate Efficiency Committee
Sen. Reginald Murdock (D-AR-09) Vice Chair, Children And Youth Committee		Sen. Jim Petty (R-AR-29) Co-Chair, Legislative Joint Auditing Committee
Sen. Fredrick J. Love (D-AR-15) Member, Advanced Communications And Information Technology Committee		Sen. Pavel M. Payano (D-MA-01) Chair, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Joint Committee
Sen. Jamie Scott (D-AR-12) Member, Advanced Communications And Information Technology Committee		Asm. Paul Bologna (D-NY-144) Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee
Rep. Steven Jackson (D-LA-02) Member, Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee		Rep. Boomer Wright (R-OR-09) Member, Education Committee
Sen. Carol Fukunaga (D-HI-11) Vice-Chair, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee		Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-IN-40) Senate Minority Leader
Rep. Eric Emery (D-SD-26A) Assistant Minority Leader		Sen. Matt McKee (R-AR-06) Member, Insurance and Commerce Committee
Rep. Matt Soper (R-CO-54) Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee		Rep. Mark Meirath (R-MO-39) Member, Utilities Committee
Rep. Lindsay Powell (D-PA-21) Member, Communications & Technology		Sen. Dale Fowler (R-IL-59) Assistant Minority Leader
Del. Michael Feggans (D-VA-91) Member, Labor and Commerce Committee		Sen. Andy Zay (R-IN-17) Member, Commerce and Technology Committee
Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-AL-83) Minority Whip		Sen. Henry Aquino (D-HI-19) Chair, Labor and Technology Committee
Sen. Ricky Hill (R-AR-11) Co-Chair, Advanced Communications and Information Technology Committee		Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-TN-20) Member, Transportation, Energy and Agriculture Committee
Sen. Aric Putnam (D-MN-14) Chair, Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development Committee		Rep. Tram T. Nguyen (D-MA-18) Chair, Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
Sen. Sam Singh (D-MI-28) Majority Floor Leader		Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-NC-15) Democratic Whip
Rep. Kate Farrar (D-CT-20) Deputy House Majority Leader		Sen. Jim Dotson (R-AR-34) Co-Chair, Public Retirement & Social Security Programs Committee
Rep. David Dolan (R-MO-148) Member, Health and Mental Health Committee		Asm. Sandra Jauregui (D-NV-41) Majority Leader
Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-PA-20) Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee		Sen. Marko Liias (D-WA-21) Chair, Transportation Committee
Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-NC-20) Member, Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee		Rep. Renee Reuter (R-MO-112) Vice-Chair, Judiciary Committee
Rep. Nate Davidson (D-PA-103) Member, Communications and Technology Committee		Sen. Tom Brandt (R-NE-32) Chair, Natural Resources Committee
Rep. Zack Hawkins (D-NC-31) Member, Energy and Public Utilities Committee

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

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