Deregulation of the telecom industry “is key” to making the industry more competitive and reducing the price of service, House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C., told a Free State Foundation conference Tuesday. Hudson said his goals are to also “modernize and streamline rules so that the telecom industry in America can thrive.” BEAD and other federal programs were supposed to help close the digital divide, “but they’re being slow-rolled over onerous requirements and regulations.”

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, praised Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during a Free State Foundation event Tuesday for moving toward what he hopes will be a major overhaul of NTIA’s $42.5 billion BEAD program. Other panel members told us they plan to grill agency administrator nominee Arielle Roth on the issue during her Thursday confirmation hearing. Lobbyists we spoke with expect Roth will face heat from Senate Commerce Democrats on BEAD because she's the committee Republicans’ telecom policy director, but they don’t believe this means the nominee will face an otherwise contentious reception. Thursday's hearing is set for 2:15 p.m. in 253 Russell.

Despite numerous signs that big changes are ahead for BEAD, states will likely stay the course on their programs and should, broadband consultants and others told us. The only smart play is for states to stay in close contact with NTIA and try to figure out what to expect, several said. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said earlier this month that a review of BEAD rules was underway (see 2503050067), and the former head of the program, Evan Feinman, predicted rules changes were coming from the Trump administration (see 2503170045). Commerce didn't comment.

The Commerce Department said on remand at the Court of International Trade that importer Hardware Resources' edge-glued wood boards are wood mouldings and millwork products subject to antidumping and countervailing duty orders on that product from China (Hardware Resources v. United States, CIT # 23-00150).

The following are short summaries of recent CBP NY rulings issued by the agency's National Commodity Specialist Division in New York:

NTIA's outgoing BEAD director warned of the "significant risk" of program changes that would saddle rural America with subpar broadband access but benefit SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. In a 1,100-word letter sent over the weekend to colleagues and friends after his last day on Friday as head of BEAD, Evan Feinman said changes coming down the pike from Commerce include a limit on per-location BEAD spending and some kind of pause, as well as an increase in low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and a reduction in fiber use. States already face BEAD uncertainty in light of Commerce this month dropping the fiber preference and saying it was undertaking a review of other program rules (see 2503060047).

BEAD reforms would occur as funding is about to be disbursed and could impose additional deployment delays, Keller & Heckman communications lawyer Sean Stokes wrote Thursday. Making BEAD changes, either by Commerce or via pending legislation (see 2503050067), now "raises thorny questions on whether some of the new rules can and should be applied mid-way through the award selection process, and after the application windows have closed," Stokes said. It's unclear if providers that haven't participated in BEAD based on the existing rules would have any recourse to participate under the new rules, he said. Also unclear is how further BEAD delays will affect state broadband maps and if NTIA will let states revise eligible locations to account for new deployments that have taken place in the meantime, he said.

The following are short summaries of recent CBP NY rulings issued by the agency's National Commodity Specialist Division in New York:

The Donald Trump administration’s attack on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs is misguided and won’t be sustained long term, consultant Deborah Lathen said Wednesday at a Broadband Breakfast webinar. Other speakers said it could take years to convince people about the importance of broadband in areas that are just being connected while confusion reigns on the future of the BEAD program.

USTelecom representatives discussed pole attachment concerns in a series of meetings at the FCC with Wireline Bureau staff and aides to Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Anna Gomez. “USTelecom emphasized that its membership is comprised of both pole owners and attachers that are seeking to deploy high-speed broadband as quickly as possible and that we support Commission efforts to speed such deployments, including those funded through BEAD and other government programs,” said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 17-84. “As USTelecom has explained, however, departing from the negotiated timelines required under the Commission’s current rules and adopting one-size-fits-all make-ready timelines for large make-ready orders will not speed deployment or further the Commission’s goals.”