Hudson Leads Legislation to Speed Up Broadband Deployment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC), who serves as the Chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led Republican members of the subcommittee in introducing the Streamlining Program Efficiency and Expanding Deployment (SPEED) for BEAD Act. This legislation would make critical improvements to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to ensure timely and accessible deployment.

"Too many Americans do not have access to broadband," said Chairman Hudson. "Yet, not a cent of the BEAD funds have been put towards actual deployment for even one household. This is unacceptable. Our rural communities need to be fully connected, and this legislation will do that."

“The SPEED for BEAD Act is crucial for removing the suffocating regulations in the BEAD program from the last administration and allowing states to pursue technologies that best fit the needs of their constituents," said Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "I thank Chairman Hudson for his leadership in fixing this program and connecting Americans to the broadband they need to participate in the 21st century economy."

Organizations supporting the SPEED for BEAD Act include: ACA Connects, the Fiber Broadband Association, INCOMPAS, NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association, USTelecom, WISPA, and NCTA - The Internet & Television Association.

“ACA Connects: America’s Communications Association thanks the Energy and Commerce Committee for leading on the SPEED for BEAD Act to streamline unnecessary requirements that are slowing deployment down," said ACA Connects President and CEO Grant Spellmeyer. "Our Members are ready to get shovels in the ground and ensure this program accomplishes its unique mission to connect unserved and underserved communities.”

“The Fiber Broadband Association commends Chairman Hudson’s leadership that will help ensure more efficient deployment of fiber broadband across America," said Gary Bolton, President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association. "The sooner BEAD funds are deployed, the sooner we can deliver the kind of broadband infrastructure that will serve American communities for generations to come and the introduction of the SPEED for BEAD Act, underscores this goal."

"The BEAD program is a critical resource to help achieve the goal of universal connectivity," said INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering. "This commonsense piece of legislation ensures BEAD takes an all of the above approach to technology, streamlines regulations, and will get networks up and running faster. From fiber to fixed wireless solutions to satellite, INCOMPAS members are using all technologies to build future proof networks and connect all Americans. We support this bill and look forward to working with Congress and the new Administration on measures to expedite deployment and bridge the digital divide."

“NTCA has long believed that the BEAD program can play a critical part in the broader mission of universal service,” said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield. “We are grateful to Chairman Hudson for his proposals to accelerate the implementation of this program and improve its operations, and we look forward to working with the administration, members of Congress, and other stakeholders to deliver on the promise of this program now and well into the future for the benefit of every American.”

“These commonsense updates in the Speed for BEAD ACT will remove roadblocks that slow down broadband deployment through the BEAD program and make it harder to connect Americans," said USTelecom President and CEO Jonathan Spalter. "By cutting red tape, eliminating requirements outside of the law, and ensuring experienced providers have the financial flexibility to focus on building networks, this legislation will help deliver high-speed internet access to the communities that need it most. USTelecom members provide the most resilient robust and future-proofed broadband technologies available and are best positioned to meet the program’s standards of Priority Broadband Locations. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress on this legislation to ensure that the formula used to determine the allocation of BEAD funds delivers wherever possible the greatest long-term broadband benefits, as well as the scale, speed, low-latency and superior service the American communities participating in the program require and deserve.” 

"The 'Speed for BEAD Act,' introduced by Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), restores the IIJA to the vision Congress passed over three years ago," said Matt Mandel, VP of Government Affairs at WISPA. "It reaffirms the IIJA’s core principle of technology neutrality, refocuses efforts on delivering broadband to all Americans, and ensures that funding reaches truly unserved communities. For the past three years, WISPA and its members have urged policymakers to ensure that BEAD remained true to its intent of providing the right tools for each location, avoid wasteful overbuilding in areas already served by reliable broadband, and meaningfully provide small ISPs the opportunity to compete for BEAD grants if they so desired to help bridge the digital divide. The “Speed for BEAD Act” will do just that. WISPA believes this legislation will move BEAD in the right direction, judiciously spending our limited taxpayer dollars to quickly and cost-effectively connect every American."

The SPEED for BEAD Act:

• Renames the program the Broadband Expansion, Access, and Deployment program, to ensure its focus is on expanding broadband access and deployment, not other issues;
• Clarifies that the program can utilize all technologies to close the digital divide;
• Ensures that funds are used for deployment and workforce development;
• Allows providers more flexibility in the projects they choose to bid on;
• Eliminates the burdensome conditions imposed by the Biden-Harris Administration, including those related to labor, climate change, and rate regulation, that made deployment more expensive and participation less attractive.

Read the SPEED for BEAD Act here.

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