The state and local construction of broadband projects may be made easier in the wake of new guidance just issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
As proposed, alterations in the Broadband Equity and Access Deployment program will eliminate climate change and climate resilience requirements, while still maintaining that those signing onto the program must put in place “risk management” plans.
Those risk management plans, by design, must account for potential service disruptions caused by either natural disasters or cyber-attacks.
The new proposal also calls for getting rid of a current requirement favoring non-traditional broadband providers, which includes municipalities, over traditional providers.
In a review of the new guidance, the National Association of Counties notes that state broadband offices will be required to “revise their Initial Proposals to comport with the new guidance no later than July 6, 2025.”
Even more, all state broadband offices must issue new “Benefit of the Bargain” sub-grantee application processes.
The Broadband Equity Access Deployment program was launched in 2021 as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Drawing upon a nearly $42.5 billion fund, the program was designed to support what has been called the “last mile” of broadband connectivity to every underserved and unserved household and place of business in the country.
In announcing the modifications of the deployment program, Howard Lutnick, the Secretary of Commerce, said an emphasis would be placed on delivering “high-speed internet access efficiently on a technology-neutral basis, and at the right price.”
As further announced by the Commerce Department, states and territories will have until early September to comply with the new regulations.
June 24, 2025
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
