NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) asks Trump Administration to expedite broadband funding and maintain focus on fiber…

In letters to several new Trump administration officials—Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr—NRECA outlined how the federal government can empower co-ops to provide rural broadband by reforming key programs, regulations and funding mechanisms.

Topping the list is a recommendation to Lutnick that some of the current rules for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program be replaced with more “commonsense policies” that get BEAD funds to rural internet providers more quickly.

In addition, the letter states that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the Commerce Department should maintain its preference for fiber within the BEAD program, add flexibility in meeting certain rate, wage and permitting statutes and remove non-statutory obstacles to disbursing BEAD funds.

NTIA should also evaluate and address rural middle mile constraints and the impact a lack of adequate middle mile capacity has on rural economic development, precision agriculture, businesses and residents, the letter says. The $1 billion Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure program created by the bipartisan infrastructure law to connect local networks to the internet and reduce data transmission costs saw demand far exceed available funding.