Bridging the digital divide by connecting all unserved and underserved businesses and households that wish to have high-speed access to the internet is critically important to the economy and U.S. global leadership in telecommunications. Investment by the private sector in broadband has been a significant factor in getting closer to achieving this objective. USTelecom’s 2024 […]
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has confirmed that the state proposals for funding under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program are projected to save more than $20 billion and could reach $22 billion after the last remaining state, California, submits its final bid. Texas alone saved more than $2 billion of […]
America’s permitting system is redundant, time-consuming, and expensive. The average permitting process takes four to five years to complete, which delays an estimated total of $1.5 trillion in investment. Permit delays impact telecommunications, transit, and dozens of other industries. For example, more than 3,000 homes and businesses in Bedford County, Virginia, were supposed to be […]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to forge ahead with eliminating outdated regulations and streamlining processes that will make it easier and faster to enable new telecommunications and network capabilities. The September 30, 2025, monthly meeting included several items that will help achieve those objectives, some of which were included in Citizens Against Government Waste’s […]
The deployment of broadband to connect businesses and families to the internet requires every level of government to avoid imposing burdensome rules and regulations that impede that process. Ensuring that projects move forward expeditiously is critical as the $42.45 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding will be released to the states from the […]
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) deadline for final proposals for the $42.45 billion in Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) is September 3, 2025. Funding is supposed to be distributed by December 31, 2025. Like other broadband programs, BEAD projects must go through a state and local permitting process, which should expedite rather […]
States across the country are working to finalize their final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment funding proposals to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration by the September 4, 2025, deadline. The state of Louisiana is leading the charge to close the digital divide as the first state in the nation to release its final draft […]
Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted into law, household broadband users in the United States have increased from 50 percent to 96 percent. The Act established the Universal Service Fund (USF), which includes the Lifeline, High-Cost, Rural Healthcare, and E-Rate programs, to help increase access to broadband. The Act also gave the Universal […]
After Arielle Roth was confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), closing the digital divide may be closer than ever. Her confirmation comes at a critical time for the agency, as it begins to send out funding to states […]
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) applauds a major victory for taxpayers, consumers, and rapid broadband deployment to close the digital divide as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) rescinds broadband price controls and other non-statutory guidance following a strong push for these changes by CAGW. On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information […]
