South Dakota Republican senator John Thune says his question is a simple one. Why is a federal agency that has repeatedly fumbled broadband grants being put in charge of massive new broadband funding in the recently Senate-passed infrastructure bill? Thune said when it comes to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s handling of a nearly $5 billion broadband grant program back in 2009.

loading...

“It didn’t go very well. The agency struggled with implementation, there were serious problems with a number of the projects the agency approved. In fact, 14 projects were either temporarily or permanently halted. Other projects resulted in a significant amount of overbuilding, meaning that they resulted in the construction of additional broadband infrastructure in areas that already had access to reliable broadband.”

Thune proposed putting the FCC, with more experience and personnel, in charge of spending $42 billion for deployment in the infrastructure bill, which also spends $14 billion for low-income subsidies. He complained NTIA sought volunteers to administer just $1.5 billion in broadband grants this year.

“We should think long and hard before giving an agency the authority to administer more than 42 billion dollars in grants when it has to call on volunteers to help allocate a tiny fraction of that money.” 

Thune also complained the Senate bill gives USDA power to give broadband grants to communities where 50% of homes lack service, urging the figure be dropped to 20% to get service where it’s truly needed and reverse longstanding problems with the country’s deployment of rural broadband.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com

More From PNW Ag Network