TPI Files Comments with NTIA on Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Implementation

The Technology Policy Institute recommends that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA):

• Offer a platform that states could choose to use off-the-shelf to distribute funds. This would create a safe harbor for states by coming pre-approved and would let them avoid the costs involved in designing their own programs.
• Require states to make public all information on applications—both funded and unfunded.
• Conduct monthly progress reports based on objective measures that allow cross-state comparisons.
• In conjunction with state broadband offices, design experiments to learn more about how different types of programs affect low-income broadband adoption and use.
• Serve as an intermediary to reduce transaction costs given the large increase in demand for workers, equipment, poles, and other inputs.