Michael O’Rielly

Kudos are due to the Trump Administration for making key changes to the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program to bring it into line with its underlying statute, while  generating  a better outcome at a fraction of the price. While state submissions are still being reviewed, the program’s total cost could ultimately come in 30 to 50 percent lower than its budgeted amount, saving upwards of $20 billion or more. Even in D.C., that is real money. The well-earned outcome raises questions over what to do with any savings.