Secretary Lutnick Hints at New Application Period for BEAD in Appropriations Testimony

In testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested plans to issue a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) asked, “Do you agree that it would be a huge waste of money and a disservice to Americans who need reliable internet service to restart a bidding and proposal process?” Sec Lutnick responded by saying, “The Biden administration had 30 months [for BEAD] and they did nothing.” He then suggested a new proposal process that would take 90 days. “We are going to say: within the next 90 days, as long as you are technologically agnostic and you agree to provide the broadband at the cheapest price per user, then we will get it [done within] 90 days for [the] application and out the door by the end of calendar year 2025.” He added, “30 months under Biden: no funding. 100% under [the] Trump administration by the end of 2025. That’s impressive.” Sen. Peters responded, “We’d like to have it faster than a 90-day process—the states have been working on this for some time.” He reiterated that Michigan is technology neutral. “Then it should be easy for them,” Sec Lutnick said. “If they’re technologically neutral, it should go like that,” he added, snapping his fingers.