David Bridges
Evan Feinman, the former director of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which aims to enhance high-speed internet accessibility in rural regions, officially stepped down from his position on Friday after not being reappointed for a new term, as revealed by ProPublica’s Craig Silverman. In a communication shared with staff members, which Silverman posted screenshots of on Bluesky, Feinman cautioned against potential changes being suggested by the new administration. He expressed concerns that these changes might favor technologies that provide “slower speeds at higher costs to households,” essentially benefiting wealthy individuals like Elon Musk.
Established in 2021, the BEAD program has faced scrutiny for its effectiveness. Recently, new Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced plans to significantly revamp the program, citing that it has “not connected a single person to the internet” due to previous administrative decisions. In his announcement, Lutnick advocated for a “tech-neutral stance” that would eliminate the current preference for faster fiber connections. This shift could lead to increased reliance on satellite internet services, such as those provided by Elon Musk’s Starlink. Furthermore, Lutnick criticized “woke mandates, favoritism towards certain technologies, and burdensome regulations” that have hampered progress.
In his email shared on Sunday, Feinman encouraged his colleagues to advocate for the removal of “needless requirements” within the program while simultaneously warning against any movement away from fiber technology. He emphasized a critical point: the new administration appears intent on making changes that could disregard the firm direction established by Congress. Such changes could result in a decrease in the number of American homes and businesses receiving fiber connections, while simultaneously increasing those reliant on satellite connections. The extent of this shift remains uncertain, yet Feinman believes that any move in this direction would ultimately disadvantage rural and small-town America. He stated that leaving rural areas with inferior internet access, solely to enrich the world’s wealthiest individuals, represents yet another betrayal by Washington.
The new administration seems to want to make changes that ignore the clear direction laid out by Congress, reduce the number of American homes and businesses that get fiber connections, and increase the number that get satellite connections. The degree of that shift remains unknown, but regardless of size, it will be a disservice to rural and small-town America. Stranding all or part of rural America with worse internet so that we can make the world’s richest man even richer is yet another in a long line of betrayals by Washington.
Brandon Fletcher
Daniel Mercer
