NE Washington News

Congressman Richard Hudson, who chairs the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, addressed a hearing titled "Fixing Biden's Broadband Blunder." He emphasized the need to close the digital divide, highlighting that many Americans, especially in rural areas like North Carolina, lack reliable high-speed broadband. Hudson pointed out that since 2020, Congress has allocated billions for broadband expansion through initiatives such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which includes the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Hudson criticized delays in deploying these funds, attributing them to extended development times for FCC maps and regulations imposed by the Biden-Harris Administration. He stated, “These actions did nothing to deploy broadband but instead created confusion while making the program less attractive to providers and deployment more expensive.”

In response, Hudson announced the introduction of the SPEED for BEAD Act aimed at eliminating what he described as burdensome regulations. The proposed legislation seeks to streamline processes by removing unnecessary regulations and ensuring cost-effective use of funds.

Hudson also mentioned that Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick plans to review the BEAD program to improve efficiency. Additionally, he stressed the importance of reforming permitting processes for broadband projects to avoid further delays.

The congressman expressed hope for bipartisan cooperation in addressing these issues, citing previous efforts by Energy and Commerce Republicans to streamline permitting processes. Hudson concluded by stating that unserved Americans have waited too long for connectivity and urged action to finally close the digital divide.