AT&T CEO Underlines the Need for an Effective Implementation of BEAD

AT&T CEO John Stankey said the most critical issue facing the telecommunications industry is the effective implementation of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. To close the digital divide, Stankey said, additional policies should be created to ensure that all BEAD Program funds (“every dollar of taxpayer money”) are used to expand access to broadband as quickly as possible. He also stressed replacing the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) with new subsidies for low-income households. To overcome affordability issues, Stankey suggested that Congress should create new subsidy programs. He argued that big tech companies—like Apple, Google, and Meta—should be among the companies responsible for subsidies, since those companies offer voice-equivalent services like texting, email, and VoIP.