FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 06, 2025
News Media Contact
NTIA, Office of Public Affairs
NTIA Issues Policy Notice that Reverses Errors of Prior Administration and Puts BEAD on Path to Success
WASHINGTON – The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today issued a Policy Notice instituting critical reforms to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The Commerce Department, under the leadership of Secretary Lutnick, conducted a thorough review of the BEAD program, the changing broadband technology landscape, and the need for subsidized broadband infrastructure around the country. After careful review, NTIA announces reforms that will remove rules favoring particular technologies and eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens.
“Today we proudly announce a new direction for the BEAD program that will deliver high-speed internet access efficiently on a technology-neutral basis, and at the right price,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. “President Trump promised to put an end to wasteful spending, and thanks to his leadership, the American people will get the benefit of the bargain, with connectivity delivered around the country at a fraction of the cost of the original program.”
“Today’s announcement, made possible by President Trump, Secretary Lutnick, and the talented NTIA team, puts the BEAD program on a path for success,” said Adam Cassady, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Acting NTIA Administrator. “Thanks to today’s reforms, the BEAD program can focus on what Congress intended: broadband deployment. Shelving the previous Administration’s unnecessary burdens, and opening access to all technology types, connects more Americans to broadband more quickly, and at a lower cost to the American taxpayer.”
As outlined in the Notice, states and territories are directed to implement these reforms in their subgrantee selection process to lower costs, speed up implementation, and ensure all technology solutions are considered. States and territories have 90 days to comply with the Notice, including conducting an additional “Benefit of the Bargain Round” of subgrantee selection that permits all applicants to compete on a level playing field.
The Policy Notice removes significant regulatory burdens previously imposed by the Biden Administration, including a requirement that states pursue rate regulation, as well as mandates related to labor, climate, government-owned networks, and other extraneous requirements. A full list of the Biden Administration Broadband Burdens that have been eliminated from the program can be found in a Commerce Department Fact Sheet.
The Policy Notice also adopts a technology-neutral approach for the BEAD subgrantee selection process by returning the definition of “Priority Broadband Project” to statutory language. Removing the preference for a single technology will bring the full force of the competitive marketplace to bear and allow American taxpayers to obtain the greatest return on their investment.
Finally, as part of the Administration’s effort to cut red tape and speed implementation, NTIA has developed a tool, called the Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool (ESAPTT), designed to accelerate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processing timelines and significantly reduce the time and effort required for broadband permitting.
The BEAD program is a $42.5 billion state grant program, authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that enables states and territories to deploy high-speed broadband to connect America. For more information on the BEAD program, visit NTIA’s BroadbandUSA website