Add news
News Every Day |

The head of a Biden program that could help rural broadband has left

Evan Feinman is out as the director of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, reports ProPublica’s Craig Silverman in a Bluesky post today. BEAD aims to bring high-bandwidth internet to underserved areas of America, much of which is rural. Silverman shared screenshots from a department-wide email Feinman sent on Friday, in which he warned there would be “deeply negative outcomes” if the program shifts from fiber build-outs to using satellite-based internet like that which Elon Musk’s Starlink offers. “Feinman’s term ended and he was not reappointed,” Silverman writes.

This month, Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick announced a “rigorous review” of the program, which he said “has not connected a single person to the internet,” something he blamed on “woke mandates, favoritism towards certain technologies, and burdensome regulations.”

BEAD was introduced as part of the $1 trillion Biden-era infrastructure spending bill. The program offers $42.5 billion in grants to states to use toward building out internet infrastructure that would provide at least a 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up connection to underserved parts of the country. The program prioritizes fiber-based internet, but allows for other kinds where fiber isn’t proven to be tenable.

Getting from the start of the program to actual network buildouts has been a long, multi-step process that started with the FCC making a map of US broadband access and moves through state proposals, challenges to the FCC’s map, and selection of ISPs that will be paid to build new service. According to the government BEAD progress-tracking site, three states — Delaware, Louisiana, and Nevada — had made it to the last step of issuing a final proposal for public comment before the site stopped being updated regularly.

Lutnick’s announcement mirrors much of Republicans’ ongoing backlash to the program, some of whom say that Biden had blocked Starlink from being part of it for political reasons, as The New York Times wrote on March 5th. The Times notes FCC denials, most recently in 2023, that kept Musk’s company from getting $886 million in Universal Service Fund subsidies for a separate rural broadband program. The FCC said said the company couldn’t “demonstrate that it could deliver the promised service.” 

The rules that Lutnick may propose could benefit Musk’s company, which was “expected to get up to $4.1 billion” under the BEAD program’s initial rules, according to The Wall Street Journal in March. The outlet said Starlink could get as much as $20 billion under Lutnick’s overhaul of the program. 

In his outgoing staff email, Feinman wrote that the overhaul could strand “all or part of rural America with worse internet so that we can make the world’s richest man even richer,” adding that it would be “yet another in a long line of betrayals by Washington.”

In the quotes from the email below, Feinman writes what he says will “definitely happen” next.

1. Removing the “woke” requirements from the program. This will include all provisions related to labor and wage, climate resiliency, middle class affordability, etc. I do not regard the inclusion or removal of these provisions as significant; they were inserted by the prior administration for messaging/political purposes, and were never central to the mission of the program, nor were they significant in the actual conduct of the program.

2. A “pause” that isn’t a pause. The administration wants to make changes, but doesn’t want to be seen slowing things down. They can’t have both. States will have to be advised that they should either slow down or stop doing subgrantee selection.

3. Some kind of limit on spending, per location. This could be fine. There weren’t any cases of a state planning to spend hundreds of thousands to connect one location anyway. However, if it’s heavy handed or imposed in a manner that ignores the needs of rural communities, it could be very bad – more on that below.

4. Changes to the treatment of fiber and satellite. Generally, even though the law pretty clearly requires that fiber builds be the program’s “priority projects,” the administration wants to increase the usage of low-earth satellites and diminish the usage of fiber.

5. The NTIA team will try to persuade the administration to embrace the best version of their chosen direction, and the BEAD team – especially the program officers out in the states – will do everything they can to support the states in conducting the program and dealing with changes.

He goes on to list what he considers are likely impacts of the changes.

1. Delays in getting broadband to the people. Some states are on the 1 yard line. A bunch are on the 5 yard line. More will be getting there every week. These more-sweeping changes will only cause delays. The administration could fix the problems with the program via waiver and avoid slowdowns. Shovels could already be in the ground in three states, and they could be in the ground in half the country by the summer without the proposed changes to project selection.

2. More people will get Starlink/Kuiper, and fewer people will get fiber connection. This could be dramatic, or it could be measured, depending on where the admin sets the threshold limit, and whether states are permitted to award projects above the new threshold on the basis of value per dollar, or if they’re forced to take the cheapest proposal, even if it provides poorer service.

3. The 3 states with approved Final Proposals remain in limbo. They are currently held in NIST review regarding their proposed FPFRs (the budgets accompanying their approved final proposals).

This makes no sense – these states are ready to go, and they got the job done on time, on budget, and have plans that achieve universal coverage. If the administration cares about getting shovels in the ground, states with approved Final Proposals should move forward, ASAP.

4. West Virginia (and soon additional states) who have completed their work, but don’t have approved Final Proposals also remain in limbo. They have a final proposal ready to go that gets exceptional service to all West Virginia homes and businesses. Like the three states with approved Final Proposals, only the current administration stands between them and getting shovels in the ground. If the administration cares about getting things done, they should allow any state that comes forward with a Final Proposal under the old rules in the next couple of months move forward with that plan.

5. No decision has been made about how much of the existing progress the 30 states who are already performing subgrantee selection should be allowed to keep. The administration simply cannot say whether the time, taxpayer funds, and private capital that were spent on those processes will be wasted and how much states will have to re-do.

6. The wireless industry will be, effectively, shut out of the BEAD program. There will be few, if any, locations that are above any new cost limit that will be able to be more cheaply served by fixed wireless than low earth satellites.

You can read the remainder of the email in Silverman’s screenshots below.

Here's the full email. Feinman's term ended and he was not reappointed. The Commerce Dept. is still weighing how it will change BEAD, but its stated preference for a low-cost, "tech neutral" use of funds could mean billions more for satellite operators like Starlink.

Craig Silverman (@craigsilverman.bsky.social) 2025-03-16T15:46:46.282Z
Москва

Прочитал коллекцию: что показал на Московской неделе моды Игорь Гуляев

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

The Spectrum: State of the State; Columbus business leader

Jared Padalecki Teases 'Supernatural' Reunion With Jensen Ackles & Misha Collins on 'The Boys'

13 mouthwatering Irish recipes Americans are missing out on

Liverpool emerge as frontrunners to sign Chelsea & Newcastle United transfer target

Ria.city
Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
В г.Колумбус начали выдачу средства для восстановления потенции

В аптеках г.Колумбус найдено средство, усиливающие потенцию в 29 раз! Им оказался обычный...






Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "17 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...


Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "17 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...

Read also

Dangote plans largest seaport in Ogun, laments $800m cement company demolition

Jane Goodall returns to Carmel to help save sea otters

Helen Flanagan reunites with ex Scott Sinclair five months after revealing he ‘blocked her’

News Every Day |

Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani raises impressive $845K as dark horse NYC mayoral bid builds momentum

Proud socialist Zohran Mamdani brought in nearly a million dollars in donations over the last two months — as his dark horse run for New York City’s mayor continues to gain momentum. The 33-year-old Queens state Assembly member’s campaign reported collecting around $845,000, with the majority of the haul coming from New Yorkers in all five...
Ria.city






Read also

Netanyahu's move to fire security agency chief threatens new crisis in Israel

Robert Whittaker plans to make decision on light heavyweight move after next fight

Fani Willis ordered to pay $54K for violating open records laws in Trump case

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Liverpool emerge as frontrunners to sign Chelsea & Newcastle United transfer target

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Liverpool emerge as frontrunners to sign Chelsea & Newcastle United transfer target



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Янник Синнер

Янник Синнер и ВАДА пошли на договорняк



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Как избежать травм в тренажерном зале: техника безопасности



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Спорт и микроэлементы. Как избежать дефицита витаминов


Новости России

Game News

Stellar Knight Idle 1.9.0


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Russian.city

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Наташа Королёва

Не платила за коммуналку: долг Наташи Королёвой превысил 137 тыс. рублей


Губернаторы России
Банк

«Выберу.ру»: кредит «Ренессанс Банка» — лидер рейтинга в марте 2025 года


Прочитал коллекцию: что показал на Московской неделе моды Игорь Гуляев

это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные

Отделение СФР по Москве и Московской области назначило единое пособие родителям с детьми до 17 лет и беременным женщинам с учетом новых правил

Подмосковье примет участие в международной выставке туризма и гостеприимства


Хиты The Beatles и ABBA исполнит симфонический оркестр

Тату-мастер заявил, что 57-летний Филипп Киркоров страдает «синей болезнью»

Баста высмеял скандал на шоу «Голос» из-за дочери ведущего Первого канала: «Ее отец серьезный босс?»

«Что такого в том, чтобы признаться в любви своей женщине на всю страну?» Павел Воля эмоционально высказался в Comedy Club


Андреева обыграла Соболеву и победила в финале WTA в Индиан-Уэллсе

«Мне на это плевать». Бублик сцепился с соперником после матча в США. Видео

Янник Синнер и ВАДА пошли на договорняк

Даниил Медведев опустился на 8-е место в рейтинге ATP, Андрей Рублев — на 9-е


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


ТСД SAOTRON RT41 GUN: практичный, производительный, надёжный

Отделение СФР по Москве и Московской области назначило единое пособие родителям с детьми до 17 лет и беременным женщинам с учетом новых правил

Bluetooth-сканер штрих-кодов SAOTRON P04 на базе CMOS-матрицы

Подмосковные росгвардейцы задержали подозреваемого в мошенничестве на территории магазина


Ямальские росгвардейцы стали призёрами Чемпионата Уральского округа Росгвардии по дзюдо

Туристы застряли в Домодедово почти на сутки из-за поломки самолета

Краснодар продемонстрировал яркие таланты: итоги отборочного тура детского благотворительного фестиваля «Добрая волна»

Актер Михаил Ефремов заявил, что устроит чудовищную движуху после выхода по УДО


Удобство и отсутствие травм: выбор экипировки

На станции метро «Трубная» в Москве есть композиция, посвящённая Пскову

Женские спортивные сообщества и формирование субкультур

Женские спортивные сообщества и формирование субкультур


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Путин в России и мире
Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Персональные новости Russian.city
Сергей Брановицкий

Опубликовать Стихи в Поэтическом сборнике.



News Every Day

13 mouthwatering Irish recipes Americans are missing out on




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости