Reps Landsman, Carter Lead on Letter Urging Commerce Secretary to Release Broadband Program Funds

Reps Greg Landsman (D-OH-1) and Troy Carter (D-LA-2) led ten other members of the House Communications Subcommittee to send a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging the immediate release of stalled Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program funds. "While we understand you have launched a review of the program, we urge you to consider the reality of where BEAD sits today and the consequences of retroactive mandates at this late stage. Despite predictions to the contrary, the so-called “pointless requirements” have not deterred private industry participation in BEAD. As a matter of fact, private industry is participating in BEAD en masse across states, with completed or open subgrantee selection processes already resulting in highly competitive bids promising to bring new infrastructure to historically unserved rural areas. It would be highly detrimental to introduce new elements of uncertainty to a program that is primed for success in the near term."