County Governments and BEAD

County officials understand better than anybody that better broadband is economic development. They understand that fiber means people will have enough upload speeds to work from home and how higher-paying jobs uplift a local economy. They were looking at the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program as a tool that would bolster the future of their County. The most disheartening thing about the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Notice is seeing all of the effort local folks have made to get better broadband fall by the wayside. I was disappointed the day the BEAD grants were announced because Congress made it too complicated. But I never complained about the BEAD goals—because this was the chance to bring fiber infrastructure to thousands of rural counties. To rub salt in the wound, the NTIA Notice also eliminates the local preference where local governments could give their favorite internet service provider extra grant points with an exclusive letter of support, and even more points by awarding a local grant. I hope that a large number of rural elected officials are voicing their unhappiness to federal politicians. Congress created the BEAD rules, and at this point, they are the only ones who can insist that the NTIA let the BEAD grant program play out as planned.