State Broadband Heads Say They Can Pivot to Harris or Trump

While the Biden administration created BEAD, some of the biggest dollar allocations went to red states. Texas, whose government leaders have been Biden opponents, is set to receive $3.3 billion, the most of any state. However, Republicans in Washington, D.C., including FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, have criticized the way NTIA is administering the BEAD program.

A potential Harris administration seems unlikely to change the BEAD program, Delaware Broadband Office Executive Director Roddy Flynn said. “If you look at what Vice President Harris has said at a lot of public events around BEAD and around [broadband] expansion, it’s clearly a priority that she shares with” President Biden, whose home state is blue Delaware. A new administration under President Donald Trump might not change it, either, Flynn said. “I don’t want to be naive,” but Republican members of Congress “fought for this program just as much as Democrats.”

Indeed, Flynn doubts a new administration could greatly change BEAD. Since NTIA approved Delaware’s full initial plan, the state already can access its $107.7 million allocation. “Folks could try to change it in a new administration, particularly if a state doesn’t have everything approved,” but it looks likely that NTIA will complete approving plans this year, Flynn said. If a new administration were to try to change BEAD, there could be a legal fight, the Delaware official added. But broadband access is a “very bipartisan issue, and so I would really be shocked if they tried to do away with the whole thing completely.” GOP gripes in Congress might foreshadow a Republican administration tinkering with details like requirements to provide low-cost options, he acknowledged.

Under Harris, states probably would have more certainty about BEAD because her party developed it, said Emily Hale, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development broadband grants manager. However, BEAD should be a bipartisan cause, the red state official said.

Maintaining stability in the federal BEAD program is “crucial” because NTIA set “very specific timelines” in its notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), Hale said. NTIA must “keep a continuous stream of approving things [and] giving guidance because I'm sure we're going to run into so many issues that we just can't even foresee now,” she said. “Having continuous, stable support amidst one of the most historic investments in a utility ever -- that just makes sense.”

States want and need continuity “to make all this happen,” agreed Bree Maki, Minnesota Office of Broadband Development executive director. Broadband shouldn’t be partisan, she added. “I'm hopeful that NTIA has put out enough information [and] states are far enough along [that] there is some stability there.” When we asked about Project 2025 proposals to dismantle the administrative state, Maki responded, “I don't know if I have the time or energy to really fixate on the unknowns at this point.” Maki noted that broadband has long been a priority for her state's governor, Tim Walz (D), who appointed Maki and is Harris' running mate (see 2408070029).

“It’s always in the back of your mind” that a program could change, Utah Broadband Director Rebecca Dilg said: Once states have the funding, “we’re all going to breathe a lot easier.” Some NTIA staff have been around for decades and will remain even if current political appointees leave, Dilg expects. Criticisms heard on Fox News are worrisome, the official from a GOP-controlled state said. However, “NTIA wants to see this work,” she said. “They’re not our enemies. They’re our friends.”

Continuity of people, policy and momentum would be “very helpful,” said Alyssa Kenney, Wisconsin Public Service Commission broadband and digital equity director. Wisconsin has promised high-speed internet to hundreds of thousands of people, she said. “We’ve been out there as public employees telling people it’s coming.” Kenney expects states could handle rule changes, but it “would be sad if the money didn’t get to the states.”

State broadband offices’ goal to achieve universal service will remain, said Oklahoma Broadband Office Chief Strategic Officer Edyn Rolls. “Our states are very bought in, even at a statewide or local government level, that it will happen regardless" of events in Washington. Rolls concedes an administration change “might affect the processes.” She added, “We’ll have to be nimble and … figure out how to navigate it.” On the difference between the next possible Democratic and Republican administrations, Rolls said she believes “generally it will either stay the same or there will be potentially less regulation.”

“Anytime you have changeover, there’s potential for some disruption,” said Brandy Reitter, Colorado Broadband Office executive director. However, since BEAD is a statute-created program, any transition could be easier, she said. “I hope that we can keep the momentum.”

Oregon looks forward to working with either administration, the state's broadband manager Daniel Holbrook said. With Oregon’s grant obligations under BEAD extending to 2032, the state knows “we will be dealing with multiple administrations” and “that guidance is going to change.”

“Regardless of what happens in November, I’m confident that we’ll have what we need to continue the project moving forward,” BroadbandOhio Chief Peter Voderberg said. “It will continue to be a priority to make sure that we have broadband.” The Ohio broadband office isn’t political, Voderberg said, so “all I’m worried about is to make sure that we can get everything across the finish line.” Whether Ohio’s plans are “approved by the current administration or whoever the next administration is, we’ll be happy to work with everybody.” Once Ohio’s complete initial plan is accepted, there won’t be anything “really in review anymore,” making a change in administration less consequential.

Communities in red, blue and purple states need broadband, reminded New Mexico Broadband Director Drew Lovelace. “That’s going to be the driver of these programs continuing.” There could be changes to BEAD in a new administration, “but ultimately [state broadband offices] are just going to figure out whatever the new requirements are and go do it.”