Western South Dakota News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, led his colleagues in sending a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris regarding her management of federal broadband initiatives. In 2021, President Biden tasked the vice president with leading efforts to expand broadband services to rural and unserved communities. Under Vice President Harris’s tenure as the “broadband czar,” the Biden-Harris administration’s $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program has yet to connect any individuals to the internet.

“Instead of focusing on delivering broadband services to unserved areas, your administration has used the BEAD program to add partisan, extralegal requirements that were never envisioned by Congress and have obstructed broadband deployment,” wrote the senators. “By imposing burdensome climate change mandates on infrastructure projects, prioritizing government-owned networks over private investment, mandating the use of unionized labor in states, and seeking to regulate broadband rates, your administration has caused unnecessary delays leaving millions of Americans unconnected.”

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

The full letter reads:

Dear Vice President Harris:

We are writing to express serious concerns regarding your role as the Biden-Harris administration’s “broadband czar” and the mismanagement of federal broadband initiatives under your leadership. It appears that your performance as “broadband czar” has mirrored your performance as “border czar,” marked by poor management and a lack of effectiveness despite significant federal broadband investments and your promises to deliver broadband to rural areas.

As you are aware, Congress provided $42.45 billion for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These funds are intended to provide broadband access to unserved communities, particularly those in rural areas.

In 2021, you were specifically tasked by President Biden with leading efforts to expand broadband services to unserved Americans. At that time you stated: "we can bring broadband to rural America today." Despite these assurances over three years ago, rural and unserved communities continue waiting for promised connectivity. Under your leadership not a single person has been connected using the $42.45 billion allocated for BEAD.

Instead of focusing on delivering broadband services to unserved areas, your administration has used BEAD funds for partisan requirements not envisioned by Congress which have obstructed deployment efforts. By imposing climate change mandates on infrastructure projects; prioritizing government-owned networks over private investment; mandating unionized labor; and seeking regulation of rates; unnecessary delays have left millions without connectivity.

The American public deserves better focus on truly connecting those still unconnected while avoiding misuse of taxpayer dollars.

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