Lutnick’s statement of the BEAD overhaul likewise slammed what he called the program’s “woke mandates” and “burdensome regulations.” Republican Politicians like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have actually slammed a requirement for ISPs that accept aids to provide affordable Internet strategies to individuals with low earnings, though the inexpensive guideline was initially enforced by Congress in the law that developed the BEAD program.

Letter: Projects might be postponed 2 years

Musk last week revealed his departure from the federal government and slammed a Trump costs for supposedly “undermining” DOGE’s cost-cutting work, Trump still appears positively inclined towards Starlink. Trump stated in an interview on Friday that with Starlink, Musk “saved a lot of lives, probably hundreds of lives in North Carolina,” describing Starlink providing emergency situation connection after Hurricane Helene.

Democrats’ letter to Trump and Lutnick stated that fiber and other terrestrial broadband innovations will be much better than satellite both for property connection and company networks that support US-based production.

“Data centers, smart warehouses, robotic assembly lines, and chip fabrication plants all depend on fast, stable, and scalable bandwidth. If we want these job-creating facilities built throughout the United States, including rural areas… we must act now—and we must build the high-speed, high-capacity networks those technologies demand,” the letter stated.

Democrats likewise stated the Trump administration’s reword of program guidelines might postpone tasks by 2 years.

“For six months, states have been waiting to break ground on scores of projects, held back only by the Commerce Department’s bureaucratic delays,” the letter stated. “If states are forced to redo or rework their plans, they will not only miss this year’s construction season but next year’s as well, delaying broadband deployment by years. That’s why we urge the Administration to move swiftly to approve state plans, and release the $42 billion allocated to the states by the BEAD Program.”

Independently from BEAD, Trump stated last month that he is eliminating a $2.75 billion broadband grant program licensed by Congress. The Digital Equity Act of 2021 enables numerous kinds of grants benefitting low-income families, individuals who are at least 60 years of ages, individuals put behind bars in state or regional jails and prisons, veterans, individuals with impairments, individuals with language barriers, individuals who reside in backwoods, and individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group. Trump called the program “racist and illegal,” stating his administration would stop dispersing Digital Equity Act grants.