Statement by Assistant Secretary Roth on NTIA’s Approach to the Use of the $21 Billion BEAD Savings

For the past few weeks, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has received an extraordinary level of interest and feedback concerning our approach to using the $21 billion in savings achieved through the Benefit of the Bargain reforms to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. We appreciate the voluminous and passionate responses to our call for input. Across three listening sessions, we had more than 1,700 attendees and 175 speakers participate. We also received 188 written comments from industry, state officials, and broadband advocates. Participants and commenters have raised interesting ideas, including funding permitting improvements and workforce-related training, enhancing public safety communications, and using some of the funding to ‘clean up’ any remaining unserved locations. Next week, state officials from around the country will travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in our State Broadband Leaders Network Winter Summit. This conference presents a unique opportunity to engage directly with the states on how some of these ideas could be implemented to ensure we continue maximizing the value of the BEAD program for the American people. While our guidance was expected by next week, we are taking additional time to review the comments and finalize our approach to ensure these funds are spent as efficiently and responsibly as possible. American taxpayers work hard for their money and deserve nothing less from this Administration.