How Trump’s DEI executive orders could impact telecommunications

The U.S. government's efforts to scrub diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from public and private sector programs could have a chilling effect on efforts to recruit tens of thousands of telecommunications workers to build out networks nationwide. Though the sector also includes wireless networks, broadband builds could be among the hardest hit by the administration’s actions. Why? Well, as New Street Research’s Blair Levin explained, DEI is actually an integral part of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. It’s right there in the name. "I fear it will have a number of negative impacts, including widening the digital literacy divide and hurting in workforce development, which is essential for the current fiber buildout surge,” Levin said. “In addition, the way the Administration is signaling changes with memos that are poorly written, then withdrawn, etc. is causing confusion and creating all kinds of wasted efforts.”