Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13) wrote to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to avoid new requirements that could delay or weaken the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program’s goal of delivering high-speed, scalable broadband to rural communities. The BEAD Program funds projects that help expand high-speed internet access and use in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. While sharing the administration’s goal of getting broadband built quickly, recent guidance from the NTIA raises concerns that new plan requirements could result in slower broadband speeds for rural Americans and waste taxpayer resources. 

“Addressing the challenges to broadband expansion in underserved areas remains a top priority of mine in Congress,” said Congressman Wittman. “Internet access is essential to driving economic growth — especially in rural communities like where I live in Virginia’s Northern Neck as well as on the Middle Peninsula and Lower Peninsula. While we’ve made meaningful progress in narrowing the digital divide, there’s still more work to do and it is vital that Congress continues to work to eliminate barriers so every American has access to reliable, high-speed internet.”

“Reliable broadband is no longer a luxury—it’s as essential as electricity, especially for our rural and underserved communities in Pennsylvania and nationwide. I’ve worked to ensure the BEAD Program meets its promise, but new federal measures threaten to derail years of planning and waste taxpayer dollars. Business owners, local leaders, and community advocates have voiced their serious concerns to me—and they’re right. This program was built to accelerate progress, not to stall it. States understand their communities best. State broadband offices are ready to award funds and build out networks, including direct fiber to the home. The federal government should not be changing the rules and causing unnecessary delays. It’s time to cut the red tape, let states and local communities lead, and deliver the connectivity our communities deserve,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick.

“Rural communities have waited long enough for next-generation broadband that will unlock massive economic opportunities, and they cannot afford more program delays," said USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter. “We thank Reps. Wittman, Craig, Fitzpatrick, and Gray for being laser focused on this issue. The connectivity community deeply appreciates their efforts to keep decision making on BEAD deployment with those at the State level with boots on the ground expertise. We cannot afford further delays when Fiber broadband is ready to be deployed right now.”

Read the full letter here or below.

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Dear Secretary Lutnick,

We remain committed to ensuring the BEAD Program delivers on its promise to strengthen the U.S. economy and connect rural Americans with the opportunities enabled by high-speed internet. We share the Administration’s goal of getting broadband built quickly, efficiently, and in a way that stands the test of time. 

However, recent guidance from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) raises concerns that the program could be slowed just as states are gaining momentum. We believe states should have the flexibility to select the technology that best supports broadband service. Requiring states to rebid previously approved selections threatens to upend years of planning and taxpayer resources have already been spent. 

We are also concerned that rural Americans could potentially receive slower broadband service through new plan requirements. This program was intended to strengthen underserved areas by providing the highest-performance and most scalable networks, so they can compete in the modern economy. In many of our districts, higher deployment costs are a reality. A one-size-fits all model puts rural communities at a disadvantage. 

We urge NTIA to preserve the program’s original intent while streamlining deployment efforts to avoid further disruptions. We look forward to working with you on this important priority because time is of the essence.

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