BEAD waiver information coming this summer, NTIA says

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced it will release a draft of its requirements for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program spending later in summer 2023, which is expected to include limited exceptions to “Build America, Buy America” rules. The “Buy America” rules require states spend the majority of their federal dollars received through the $42.5 billion BEAD program on American-made materials. However, limited access to domestically produced fiber broadband components has prompted broadband leaders to call on NTIA to make exceptions to the “Buy America” rules, or face extensive delays on BEAD-funded projects. NTIA leaders have promised for several months that a waiver for the “Buy America” rules is coming, but what it will cover is still unclear. The White House released guidance stating that fiber is classified as a construction material, and is therefore subject to the “Buy America” rules. The White House guidance acknowledged concerns that these rules might delay project progress, and said it would leave it to federal agencies to determine whether a waiver to the rules is justified.