With the loss of the Digital Equity Act (DEA) and the sunsetting of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds, the non-deployment funds from the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) are becoming increasingly vital for supporting digital inclusion efforts and implementing each state’s digital equity/opportunity plans. Any “savings” from the ‘benefit of the bargain’ should remain with the states to ensure residents can safely use these new networks to communicate with their doctors, apply for jobs, and complete their homework.
However, given the lack of guidance from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to date, the agency’s rescission of its prior approval for all non-deployment activities, and its demonstrated disregard for Congress’s explicit intent and instruction to implement the Digital Equity Act, we believe the non-deployment funds could be at risk of reallocation or rescission.
To that end, we have developed three templates for you to use in advocating for your state to retain its full BEAD allocation, including the non-deployment funds, and the ability to spend them on broadband adoption projects as Congress originally intended. We encourage you to send a letter to Secretary Lutnick, NTIA Administrator Roth, and your congressional delegation, asking them to do the same. You can gather a group of co-signers or send on your own. Time is of the essence, however, so we encourage you to send your letters as soon as possible.
The templates include:
- Template Invitation Email requesting signatures: You can use this template to invite members of your coalition, partner organizations, or other coalitions to sign on to the letter(s) (because the more signatures you get, the better).
- Template Sign-On Letter to Secretary Lutnick and NTIA Administrator Roth: urging them to follow the explicit intentions of Congress, as written in the law, and release the full allocation of non-deployment funds to every state for broadband adoption efforts, as authorized in the IIJA.
- Template Sign-on Letter to Members of Congress: directed to your federal elected officials, Congressional leadership, or Committees of Jurisdiction to encourage them to urge Secretary Lutnick and NTIA Administrator Roth to release the full allocation of non-deployment funds to states for broadband adoption efforts as authorized in the IIJA.