$42 billion broadband grant program may scrap Biden admin’s preference for fiber

Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been demanding an overhaul of a $42.45 billion broadband deployment program, and now his telecommunications policy director has been chosen to lead the federal agency in charge of the grant money. Arielle Roth's nomination to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is pending Senate approval. Roth works for the Senate Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Sen Cruz. Shortly after Trump's election win, Sen Cruz called for an overhaul of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which was created by Congress in November 2021 and is being implemented by the NTIA. Cruz previously accused the NTIA of "technology bias" because the agency prioritized fiber over other types of technology.