Pew Urges Avoiding BEAD Deployment Impediments

To speed universal connectivity efforts, the White House and Congress should improve transparency and consistency in BEAD decision-making, said Kathryn de Wit, director of Pew Charitable Trusts' broadband access initiative. She wrote last week that making public all past waivers issued to states would help, as would be ensuring that guidance is consistently applied across all states. Issuance of remaining BEAD guidance should be expedited, so states and service providers understand the standards, she said, adding that NTIA should be used to resolve interagency issues that could slow deployment, such as permitting approvals. She called for waivers aimed at lowering permitting requirements and minimizing application requirements for ISPs, such as the letter of credit requirement. Pointing to instances of ISP noncompliance with the rural digital opportunity fund, de Wit urged that NTIA give states power to redeploy funds to other locations.