Louisiana Gov. Urges NTIA to Revamp Its Tech-Neutral BEAD Approach
NTIA must take a tech-neutral approach in the BEAD program and "reverse policy choices that skew market-driven outcomes for technology selection," Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) told commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick. Louisiana was the first state to begin its BEAD process and receive final NTIA approval for its plan (see 2501140055). Landry wrote Lutnick a letter Wednesday encouraging that the agency provide more flexibility and streamline other approval processes.
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Although a "significant majority of our dollars" will go toward fiber broadband deployment, Landry said, the state has "strongly pursued a tech-neutral solution" by "engaging with low earth orbit (LEO) satellite service providers." This approach has allowed the state to "maximize efficient use [of] taxpayer dollars and ensure fit for purpose solutions statewide," he said.
Landry encouraged NTIA to amend its rules so LEO satellite and unlicensed wireless services can qualify as a "reliable broadband service" and eliminate the "alternative technology" category. LEO and unlicensed wireless subgrants should also have the same requirements as all other technologies, Landry added. NTIA released its final guidance on the use of alternative technology earlier this month (see 2501020038).
The Wireless ISP Association backed Landry's call to amend its rules. As the first state to receive full NTIA approval for its BEAD plan, Louisiana "offers lessons for all subsequent state BEAD processes," said WISPA Director-State Advocacy Steve Schwerbel (see 2501030037). He said the group "appreciate[s] the work ConnectLA did to reach out to the fixed wireless community," noting that at least half a dozen states said in their Volume II proposals that they wouldn't have enough money to achieve universal service with their BEAD funding.
Landry also urged NTIA to adopt shorter "shot clocks" for all approvals that are statutorily mandated and create a "publicly-available tracker" showing states' statuses. He suggested requiring that states use fixed-amount subawards, early payment milestones for subgrantees, and streamlined cost-reasonableness review policies.
"Louisiana's BEAD program makes clear that prioritizing fiber over meeting all of BEAD's goals represents a failure of imagination and courage," Schwerbel said. "WISPA continues to urge NTIA to send states back to the drawing board until they can demonstrate full consideration of alternative technology solutions," he said, adding that more broadband leaders should "look to the lessons Gov. Landry lays out here to craft final BEAD plans."