Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) engaged in a dialogue with Howard Lutnick during the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation's confirmation hearing for the position of Secretary of Commerce.

During the session, Thune addressed concerns about expanding internet access to rural areas through the NTIA Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program. He highlighted that despite a $42 billion allocation, no households have been connected yet due to various mandates imposed by the Biden administration. These include climate change mandates and rate regulation, which have prevented telecoms in South Dakota from participating. Thune asked Lutnick if he would work with states to remove these requirements.

Lutnick responded: “I’m going to work to make sure that Congress gets the benefit of the bargain. You want to get, right, broadband into the hands of low-income people? Let’s go do it, but let’s do it efficiently, and let’s do it swiftly. Let’s use satellites, let’s use wireless, and let's use fiber, and let’s do it the cheapest, most efficiently we can. And I commit to working with you to make sure the states execute and deliver on the promise that Congress has made.”

Thune further questioned whether Lutnick would ensure BEAD funding is solely used for broadband infrastructure builds. Lutnick affirmed: “Absolutely.”

The conversation also covered strengthening U.S. global leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). Thune emphasized crafting a legislative framework for AI accountability without heavy regulations and expressed support for President Trump's executive order reversing Biden's AI policy.

Lutnick stated: “So, the Department of Commerce has led the world in cyber, right. Our cyber technology and cyber rules are the gold standard of the world. Let’s leverage that model into the standards for artificial intelligence – let’s use what we’re great at and leverage that again and use it again. So rather than think about it, we want to make sure we protect and defend our country, but we want to make sure that we lead. It has to be an American-driven leadership in AI; it is fundamental."