Sen Klobuchar, Rep Clyburn, And Over 40 Members of the House and Senate to the Trump Administration: Reverse Course and Fully Implement Broadband

Sen Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep Jim Clyburn (D-SC), and over 40 of their colleagues called on Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to fully implement the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program as Congress intended to connect all Americans to high-quality, affordable internet. This letter comes as the Department of Commerce announced substantial changes to the implementation of the BEAD program. The legislators urged Secretary Lutnick to give states "the full funding and flexibility they retained prior to the issuance of the restructuring notice." They wrote, "As reflected in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s congressional findings, high-quality internet access is a requirement to fully participate in the world, and the BEAD program is our once-in-a century opportunity to finish closing the digital divide. We fear this opportunity would be squandered by the restructuring notice and its changes to coverage, quality, and affordability. We therefore urge you to implement the BEAD program in accordance with the best reading of the statute so we can make high-quality internet accessible and affordable for all Americans."