Black Churches Back Tech Neutral Broadband Buildouts

The Conference of National Black Churches, along with five other groups representing Black clergy and congregations, has called on the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) to allow the $40 billion-plus broadband subsidy money it is handing out to states to be used for whatever technology -- fiber, wireless, etc. -- best fits their communities. That came in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and NTIA administrator Alan Davidson. NTIA has been given the primary oversight role of the broadband subsidies in the President's -- and Congress' -- massive infrastructure plan. "America’s mosaic of diverse people and communities argues for the government’s deployment of broadband to be done in a way that takes advantage of diverse technology options that will provide the best broadband services across remote and underserved areas," they said. The Biden Administration has suggested fiber to the home get priority status in the subsidy handouts, but has not ruled out other technologies so long as they provide sufficient speeds and quality.