An Op-Ed from Johnny Kampis of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance talks about deployment of BEAD funding from the provider perspective…

Some states are finding it difficult to entice providers to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program due to the myriad hoops (i.e. regulations) through which those companies must jump. Industry leaders in multiple states have recently said they expect no buy-in from their groups’ members.

He includes statements from MN industry folks…

Brent Christensen, president and CEO of Minnesota Telecom Alliance, recently told MinnPost that he expects none of the alliance’s 70 members to apply for any of the $652 million from BEAD to be distributed in that state.

Christensen pointed out that many of the group’s members primarily operate in rural areas, which are already expensive to connect without putting additional restrictions on the projects. He singled out the low-cost option requirement as a large impediment to participation.

“To put those obligations on small rural providers is a hell of a roadblock,” Christensen said. “Most of our members are small and can’t afford to offer a low-cost option.”

His counterpart at the Minnesota Cable Communications Association, Melissa Wolf, agreed that the low-cost provision “just won’t work for smaller providers.”

His hope is that President Trump will relax NTIA’s policies…

NTIA Director Alan Davidson has announced he plans to step down when president-elect Trump is inaugurated for his second term. Hopefully, the Trump administration will relax some of the NTIA’s policies that could deter investment into the BEAD program and ensure greater participation to connect those still in need of broadband service.