Republican Senators Raise Concerns Over New Treasury Broadband Rule

In a letter to Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, 11 Republican senators raised concerns regarding the recently-announced final rule for broadband infrastructure funding through the Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds. We are profoundly disappointed that Treasury’s final rule lacks the proper guidance and constraints needed to ensure that federal funds are used efficiently and for their intended purpose. As history has demonstrated, absent such constraint, there remains a significant risk that taxpayer money will be wasted in areas where broadband infrastructure already exists and those without access to quality broadband service will not receive the full measure of needed assistance.

The letter was also signed by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Thune (R-SD), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN, Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Susan Collins (R-ME).