Thursday, April 3, 2025
Press Release
Over 100 Bipartisan State Legislators Defend State Leadership Over Broadband Buildout
Bipartisan Letter to Secretary of Commerce Warns Against Federal Changes That Could Undermine State BEAD and DE Plans, Delay Broadband Deployment and Adoption
In a strong bipartisan appeal, 115 state legislators from 28 states sent a joint letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, urging the Department of Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to allow state Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity (DE) programs to proceed without delay. The group urges Secretary Lutnick to reconsider changes that could undermine state authority over state programs and delay broadband deployment by a year or more.
“NTIA shouldn’t change the rules in the middle of the game. That would invalidate years of hard and costly work by states and internet service providers, and it would keep millions of Americans offline for longer than necessary,” said Drew Garner of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. “We are so close to finishing the job. Let's not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”
The letter follows comments by Secretary Lutnick indicating that he intends to make fundamental changes to the $42 billion BEAD Program, including giving stronger preference to satellite internet. In the letter, legislators warn that such changes could force states to restart their broadband grant programs, many of which are already in the final stages of planning and execution. While the signatories support improvements to the program, they stress that any federal changes should be optional, not mandated across all states.
At this late stage, major changes would undermine our work and delay deployment by years. The health, safety, education, and economic success of our communities depend on these programs. We ask that you tread cautiously when changing them.
Legislators argue that their state-designed programs are already showing success: Louisiana reports 95% fiber coverage, Nevada 83%, and Delaware 100%.
These are incredible results, and the flexibility to prioritize fiber while still incorporating wireless and satellite technologies will bring our constituents high-quality, affordable service at reasonable costs. For DE, our states are creating programs that address the full range of digital needs—skills for agriculture, healthcare, personal finance and entrepreneurship, online safety, cybersecurity, and efficient use of government.
“Our goal with this letter is to remind Secretary Lutnick that states know what works best for our people and to ask that he defer to them on what changes are needed to close the digital divide once and for all,” said Missouri State Representative Louis Riggs. “We’ve built smart broadband plans tailored to our communities, and federal changes at this stage risk undermining years of progress and deliberation. The best thing Washington can do is let states finish the job.”
The letter was organized by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the State Connections Working Group. States represented include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The authors are still accepting signatures, and state legislators can add their name through this form or by emailing dgarner@benton.org. A copy of the joint letter is available here.
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About the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society: The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a 44-year-old nonprofit working to make sure everyone in the United States can use and benefit from high-quality, affordable broadband. We strengthen local, state, and national leadership by providing the timely information and analysis, practical guidance, and advocacy needed to articulate and implement a broadband-for-all agenda.
About State Connections: State Connections is a broadband working group created by and for state legislators. With hundreds of members from across the country, we provide a venue for broadband champions to exchange ideas and collaborate to close the digital divide.
Media Contact
Drew Garner
dgarner@benton.org
(314) 803-7187
The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.
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