Submitted on April 3, 2025

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Digital Beat

States to DC: "No More BEAD Delays"

Over 140 Bipartisan State Legislators Send Letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has indicated he’ll make fundamental changes to the $42 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. These changes, such as giving a stronger preference for satellite internet, could force states to restart their broadband grant programs.

On April 3, a group of 115 bipartisan state legislators from 28 states sent Secretary Lutnick a letter requesting that any BEAD changes be optional rather than mandatory. Mandatory changes could upend the rules of state broadband programs, many of which are nearing completion, and delay deployment by a year or more. States, they argue, should have final say over state programs. Read the full letter below.

Update: As of May 19th, 2025, 148 bipartisan state legislators from 36 states have signed the letter. The authors are still accepting signatures. State legislators can add their names through this form or by emailing [email protected].

TO:
Secretary Howard Lutnick
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20230

CC:
Adam Cassady, NTIA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Administrator
Arielle Roth, Nominee, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications & Information
Members of Congress

RE: BEAD and DE Implementation

Dear Secretary Lutnick,

Congratulations on your confirmation as Secretary of Commerce. We look forward to working with you to bring fast, reliable, affordable broadband to every last one of our constituents.

We, the undersigned group of 148 bipartisan state legislators representing 36 states, respectfully request that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) allow state Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity (DE) programs to proceed without delay. If NTIA changes program conditions, we ask that those changes be optional rather than mandatory. We are concerned that mandatory changes will undermine state authority over state programs (a central feature of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), undo our BEAD and DE plans, and delay broadband deployment by a year or more.

After three years of preparation, we are just now beginning to implement our BEAD and DE programs. And, so far, it is going very well. For BEAD, initial grant rounds have resulted in nearly universal coverage, widespread competition, and substantial winnings for local and regional providers. For example, Louisiana has achieved 95% fiber coverage, 3% wireless/cable, and 2% satellite; Nevada achieved 83% fiber coverage, 7% wireless/cable, and 9% satellite; and Delaware achieved 100% fiber coverage. These are incredible results, and the flexibility to prioritize fiber while still incorporating wireless and satellite technologies will bring our constituents high-quality, affordable service at reasonable costs. For DE, our states are creating programs that address the full range of digital needs—skills for agriculture, healthcare, personal finance and entrepreneurship, online safety, cybersecurity, and efficient use of government programs. Together, BEAD and DE will ensure that all people reap the full benefit of connectivity.

As state legislators, we understand that no program is perfect. Indeed, we welcome some changes. However, we ask that you defer to our states about which changes we adopt. The federal approach to broadband programs—most recently exemplified by the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund—has created obstacles that we are only now overcoming. Let us not repeat mistakes of the past.

One in four rural residents do not have access to broadband. But they are about to. State BEAD and DE programs have been designed by and for state stakeholders, and they are poised to bring high-speed, reliable, affordable, and scalable broadband to virtually every last one of our constituents. Please respect the results of this process. At this late stage, major changes would undermine our work and delay deployment by years. The health, safety, education, and economic success of our communities depend on these programs. We ask that you tread cautiously when changing them.

Thank you,

Rep. Louis Riggs (R-MO-05)
Vice Chair, Budget Subcommittee on General Administration

Rep. Matt Pierce (D-IN-61)
Ranking Member, Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Sen. Rachel May (D-NY-48)
Chair, Legislative Commission on Rural Resources

Sen. Jane English (R-AR-13)
Chair, Education Committee

Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-WA-32)
Chair, Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Committee

Rep. Randy Udell (D-WI-47)
Member, Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access

Rep. Jeffrey Mursau (R-WI-36)
Member, Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access

Rep. Sonya Marie Harper (D-IL-06)
Chair, Agriculture & Conservation Committee

Rep. Pam Marsh (D-OR-05)
Member, Oregon Broadband Advisory Council

Rep. Jake Johnson (R-NC-113)
Deputy Majority Leader

Sen. Bob Duff (D-CT-25)
Majority Leader

Sen. Liz Larson (D-SD-10)
Senate Minority Leader

Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-NJ-16)
Chair, Legislative Oversight Committee

Asm. Angelo Morinello (R-NY-145)
Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee

Rep. Willard Haley (R-MO-58)
Vice Chair, Agriculture Committee

Rep. J. Eric Ager (D-NC-114)
Shadow Chair, Agriculture and Environment Committee

Sen. Melissa Ratcliff (D-WI-16)
Ranking Member, Committee on Utilities and Tourism

Rep. Maria Cervania (D-NC-41)
Member, Energy and Public Utilities Committee

Sen. Dawn Euer, (D-RI-13)
Member, Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans' Affairs

Rep. Cherrish S. Pryor (D-IN-94)
Member, Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee

Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-IL-43)
Chair, Human Rights Committee

Rep. Dan Miller (D-PA-42)
Member, Labor and Industry Committee

Sen. Jana Hughes (R-NE-24)
Vice Chair, Education Committee

Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R-MO-61)
Member, Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Asm. Joe DeStefano (R-NY-03)
Ranking Member, Governmental Employees Committee

Asm. Michael Durso (R-NY-09)
Minority Ranking Member, Labor Committee

Asm. Phil Ramos (D-NY-06)
Deputy Speaker

Rep. Brandon Markosek (D-PA-25)
Chair, Housing and Community Development Committee

Rep. Dan Deasy (D-PA-27)
Chair, Liquor Control Committee

Sen. Monica R. Martinez (D-NY-04)
Chair, Local Government Committee

Asm. Jarett Gandolfo (R-NY-07)
Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore

Rep. Alex Burton (D-IN-77)
Member, Committee on Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications

Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-TN-51)
Member, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

Rep. Mike Andrade (D-IN-12)
Ranking Minority Member, Financial Institutions Committee

Rep. Sheila Stubbs (D-WI-78)
Member, Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care

Sen. Dean Murray (R-NY-03)
Ranking Member, Commerce, Economic Development & Small Business Committee

Sen. Mario R. Mattera (R-NY-02)
Ranking Member, Energy and
Telecommunications Committee

Sen. Scott Kawasaki (D-AK-P)
Chair, State Affairs Committee

Sen. Josh Boschee (D-ND-44)
Senate Assistant Minority Leader

Sen. Anthony H. Palumbo (R-NY-01)
Deputy Floor Leader Republican Conference

Rep. Mitch Gore (D-IN-89)
Assistant Democratic Whip

Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-IN-01)
Assistant Democratic Whip

Rep. Brienne Brown (D-WI-45)
Member, Agriculture Committee

Rep. Jerry L. O'Connor (R-WI-60)
Chair, Ways and Means Committee

Rep. Mary Isaacson (D-PA-175)
Member, House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities

Sen. Blake Johnson (R-AR-21)
Chair, Insurance & Commerce Committee

Sen. Wendy DeBoer (D-NE-10)
Member, Transportation and Telecommunications Committee

Asm. Steve Stern (D-NY-10)
Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee

Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-WI-66)
Assembly Minority Leader

Rep. Vincent Miresse (D-WI-71)
Member, Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation

Asm. Rebecca Kassay (D-NY-04)
Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee

Rep. Pat Boy (D-IN-09)
Former member, LaPorte County Broadband Task Force

Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-IN-32)
Ranking Member, House Committee on the Judiciary

Sen. Josh Becker (D-CA-13)
Member, Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee

Rep. Brandy L. Pyle (R-ND-22)
Chair, Administrative Rules Committee

Rep. Ann Roe (D-WI-44)
Member, State Affairs Committee

Rep. Clinton Anderson (D-WI-55)
Ranking Member, Local Government Committee

Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-WI-79)
Ranking Member, Energy and Utilities Committee

Rep. Tara Johnson (D-WI-96)
Member, Agriculture Committee

Rep. Jenna Jacobson (D-WI-50)
Ranking Member, Agriculture Committee

Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-WI-20)
Ranking Member, Workforce Development, Labor, & Integrated Employment Committee

Rep. Ben DeSmidt (D-WI-65)
Member, Science, Technology, and AI Committee

Rep. Jill Billings (D-WI-95)
Member, Agriculture Committee

Rep. Mike Bare (D-WI-80)
Ranking Member, Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency Committee

Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan (R-NY-60)
Senate Minority Whip

Rep. Maureen McCarville (D-WI-42)
Member, Energy and Utilities Committee

Rep. Alex Joers (D-WI-81)
Ranking member, Small Business Development Committee

Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-WI-15)
Ranking Member, Government Operations, Labor, and Economic Development Committee

Sen. Bart Hester (R-AR-33)
President Pro Tempore

Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D-AR-08)
Member, Insurance and Commerce Committee

Sen. Missy Irvin (R-AR-24)
Chair, Public Health, Welfare And Labor Committee

Sen. Terry Rice (R-AR-05)
Co-Chair, Joint Performance Review Committee

Rep. Joan Fitzgerald (D-WI-46)
Member, Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment Committee

Sen. Dave Wallace (R-AR-19)
Vice Chair, Public Health, Welfare And Labor Committee

Rep. Rodney D. Pierce (D-NC-27)
Member, Appropriations Committee

Sen. Greg Leding (D-AR-30)
Member, Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee

Sen. Kim Hammer (R-AR-16)
Chair, Senate Efficiency Committee

Sen. Clarke Tucker (D-AR-14)
Vice Chair, Senate Efficiency Committee

Sen. Reginald Murdock (D-AR-09)
Vice Chair, Children And Youth Committee

Sen. Jim Petty (R-AR-29)
Co-Chair, Legislative Joint Auditing Committee

Sen. Fredrick J. Love (D-AR-15)
Member, Advanced Communications And Information Technology Committee

Sen. Pavel M. Payano (D-MA-01)
Chair, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Joint Committee

Sen. Jamie Scott (D-AR-12)
Member, Advanced Communications And Information Technology Committee

Asm. Paul Bologna (D-NY-144)
Member, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee

Rep. Steven Jackson (D-LA-02)
Member, Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee

Rep. Boomer Wright (R-OR-09)
Member, Education Committee

Sen. Carol Fukunaga (D-HI-11)
Vice-Chair, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee

Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-IN-40)
Senate Minority Leader

Rep. Eric Emery (D-SD-26A)
Assistant Minority Leader

Sen. Matt McKee (R-AR-06)
Member, Insurance and Commerce Committee

Rep. Matt Soper (R-CO-54)
Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee

Rep. Mark Meirath (R-MO-39)
Member, Utilities Committee

Rep. Lindsay Powell (D-PA-21)
Member, Communications & Technology

Sen. Dale Fowler (R-IL-59)
Assistant Minority Leader

Del. Michael Feggans (D-VA-91)
Member, Labor and Commerce Committee

Sen. Andy Zay (R-IN-17)
Member, Commerce and Technology Committee

Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-AL-83)
Minority Whip

Sen. Henry Aquino (D-HI-19)
Chair, Labor and Technology Committee

Sen. Ricky Hill (R-AR-11)
Co-Chair, Advanced Communications and Information Technology Committee

Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-TN-20)
Member, Transportation, Energy and Agriculture Committee

Sen. Aric Putnam (D-MN-14)
Chair, Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development Committee

Rep. Tram T. Nguyen (D-MA-18)
Chair, Climate Action and Sustainability Committee

Sen. Sam Singh (D-MI-28)
Majority Floor Leader

Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-NC-15)
Democratic Whip

Rep. Kate Farrar (D-CT-20)
Deputy House Majority Leader

Sen. Jim Dotson (R-AR-34)
Co-Chair, Public Retirement & Social Security Programs Committee

Rep. David Dolan (R-MO-148)
Member, Health and Mental Health Committee

Asm. Sandra Jauregui (D-NV-41)
Majority Leader

Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-PA-20)
Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee

Sen. Marko Liias (D-WA-21)
Chair, Transportation Committee

Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-NC-20)
Member, Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee

Rep. Renee Reuter (R-MO-112)
Vice-Chair, Judiciary Committee

Rep. Nate Davidson (D-PA-103)
Member, Communications and Technology Committee

Sen. Tom Brandt (R-NE-32)
Chair, Natural Resources Committee

Rep. Zack Hawkins (D-NC-31)
Member, Energy and Public Utilities Committee

Rep. Kelda Helen Roys (D-WI-26)
Member, Joint Committee on Finance

Rep. Christopher Morrow (D-VT-85)
Member, Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure

Del. Kayla Young (D-WV-56)
Pro Tempore House Minority Leader

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-VA-15)
Member, Broadband Advisory Council

Sen. Jennifer B. Boysko (D-VA-38)
Acting Chair, Broadband Advisory Council

Rep. Bram Kleppner (D-VT-13)
Member, Committee on Energy & Digital Infrastructure

Rep. Joy Garratt (D-NM-29)
Vice-Chair, House Education Committee

Asm. Clinton Calabrese (D-NJ-36)
Chair, Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee

Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa (D-MA-1)
Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Rep. Kevin Volk (D-AZ-17)
Member, Appropriations Committee

Rep. Brianna Titone (D-CO-27)
Chair, Joint Technology Committee

Sen. Janet H. Ellis (D-MT-41)
Member, Communication Advisory Committee

Rep. Mariana Sandoval (D-AZ-23)
Ranking Member, Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee

Rep. Erika White (D-OH-41)
Member, Commerce & Labor Committee

Rep. Junelle Cavero (D-AZ-11)
Member, Commerce Committee

Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D-ID-19)
Minority Leader

Sen. George Muñoz (D-NM-04)
Chair, Legislative Finance Committee

Rep. Karilyn Brown (R-AR-67)
Member, City, County, Local Committee

Del. Jackie Hope Glass (D-93-VA)
Member, Communications, Technology and Innovation Committee

Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-GA-137)
Secretary, Rural Development Committee

Asm. Matthew J. Simpson (R-NY-114)
Ranking Member, Environmental Conservation Committee

Rep. Kim Schofield (D-GA-63)
Secretary, Urban Affairs Committee

Rep. Marvin Lim (D-GA-98)
Member, Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Rep. Sam Park (D-GA-107)
Minority Whip

Rep. Strom Peterson (D-WA-21)
Chair, Housing Committee

Rep. Jamila Taylor (D-WA-30)
Chair, Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee

Rep. Adam Bernbaum (D-WA-24)
Vice Chair, Transportation Committee

Rep. Rebecca Saldana (D-WA-37)
Chair, Labor and Commerce Committee

Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-WA-33)
Member, Washington Digital Equity Forum Joint Committee

Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-RI-11)
Member, Health & Human Services Committee

Rep. Michelle McGaw (D-RI-71)
Member, House Health and Human Services Committee

Rep. Lydia Glaize (D-GA-67)
Member, Education Committee

Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-GA-97)
Member, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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