Advocates: Fine Print in New BEAD Notice Favors Satellite Providers

As broadband officials dig into the fine print of updated guidance governing a $42.45 billion federal broadband expansion program, many raised concerns about new advantages carved out for low-Earth orbit satellite providers. One of the clearest examples, they argued, was a provision under revised rules for the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment program, that gives satellite providers up to 10 years to meet performance benchmarks—more than double the four years allowed for fiber and other technologies to comply. The rules, released by the Commerce Department earlier this month, purport to be “tech neutral,” but critics continue to find biases within them. “Don’t talk to me about technology neutrality when you’ve just given the worst technology the best odds of getting awards,” said executive director of the American Association for Public Broadband Gigi Sohn.