The House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing on September 10 to assess the implementation of the Biden Administration’s $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The hearing, titled “From Introduction to Implementation: A BEAD Program Progress Report,” will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building. Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta said in a joint statement, “The BEAD program was created to ensure that all Americans—specifically those in unserved areas—have access to broadband.
For the program to succeed and close the digital divide, Congress must closely monitor NTIA’s implementation and maintain an open line of communication with states, providers, and other key stakeholders.”
The hearing will focus on reviewing the program’s implementation, assessing the impact of NTIA’s rules, and understanding expectations as states begin to award funds. Rodgers and Latta emphasized the importance of allowing each state to develop broadband plans that meet its specific needs, encourage provider participation, and connect all Americans with reliable broadband services as Congress intended. The BEAD program, a key component of President Biden’s 2021 infrastructure law, aims to deliver high-speed internet to more rural communities across America.
Evaluating BEAD program implementation progress
However, nearly three years after its introduction, the program has yet to launch in several states, frustrating rural voters. Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr noted in previous testimony that “It has now been 967 days since President Biden signed this $42 billion plan into law.
And today, not one person has been connected to the internet with those dollars.” The delays have led to increasing disapproval among Republicans, who believe the Biden Administration has prioritized extraneous political goals over faithfully implementing the statute. To date, only three states – Montana, Louisiana, and West Virginia – have begun to accept applications for broadband projects, with Wyoming planning to accept funding applications as soon as mid-October. Doug Dawson, president of CCG Consulting, noted that only a tiny fraction of BEAD construction will be happening in 2025, with most states struggling to find a quick path through the necessary steps.
The hearing will be open to the public and press, with live streaming available online at the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s website.
