Department of Commerce

As of today, we estimate that Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program reforms have generated over $21 billion in savings for taxpayers, while advancing universal broadband nationwide. That is not a projection. That is the direct result of competition and disciplined execution. But savings alone are not the goal. Execution and long-term success matter even more. Too many past broadband programs failed because projects defaulted, providers walked away, and communities were left stranded.

In the first year of President Donald J. Trump’s second term, Secretary Lutnick has overseen a total transformation of the Department of Commerce. At the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA):

The Senate confirmed Paul Dabbar as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce in 56-40 vote. In this role, he will serve as the Department’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), overseeing its day-to-day management, a $11.4 billion annual budget, 12 operating units, and 47,000 employees. He is also a member of the President’s Management Council. Most recently, Mr. Dabbar was President and CEO of Bohr Quantum Technology, where he led the development and deployment of technologies for emerging quantum networks. 

The governments of the United Arab Emirates and the United States have agreed to establish the "US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership" framework to further bolster cooperation around critical technologies and ensure the protection of such technologies based on a set of joint commitments. The US will facilitate deeper technology cooperation with the UAE, including the launch of a 1GW AI data center, part of a planned 5GW UAE-US artificial intelligence technology cluster in Abu Dhabi to support regional computation demand, while meeting robust US security standards and other efforts to responsib

In 2022, Congress created the Tech Hubs Program to strengthen U.S. economic and national security by commercializing the technologies of the future. The investments made through this program can ensure that critical industries, companies, and jobs start, grow, and remain in the United States. At my direction, the Commerce Department is revamping the Tech Hubs program to prioritize national security, project quality, benefit to the taxpayer, and a fair process.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has listed expanding affordable, high-quality broadband to every American as an objective in its 20222026 Strategic Plan. However, the combination of standing up new broadband programs and increasing access to broadband is an ongoing, nationwide challenge. The evaluation objective was to identify potential challenges for deploying broadband to underserved and unserved communities.

In 2021, Congress created the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program to expand Americans’ access to high-speed internet. But, years later, because of the prior Administration’s woke mandates, favoritism towards certain technologies, and burdensome regulations, the program has not connected a single person to the internet and is in dire need of a readjustment.