NE Washington News

Yesterday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology convened a hearing titled "Fixing Biden’s Broadband Blunder" in Washington, D.C. The discussion centered around issues related to broadband deployment in the United States.

Chairman Hudson expressed hope for bipartisan cooperation to address these challenges. "I hope this new Congress and the urgency of this moment will inspire bipartisan cooperation on this effort. We must do everything we can to remove these unnecessary barriers to deployment," he stated. He emphasized the need to close the digital divide, saying, "Unserved Americans have waited too long for the promise of connectivity. But now is the moment to close the digital divide once and for all."

Representative Neal Dunn from Florida criticized previous spending efforts, noting that significant funds had been allocated with little result. “We spent 65 billion in the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act, the IIJA, to support broadband activities, and we have nothing to show for it," he remarked.

Georgia's Representative Buddy Carter attributed delays in broadband expansion to permitting processes under recent administrations. “Let’s face it, the past 4 years under the Biden Harris administration has been nothing short of a disaster for broadband deployment and expansion," Carter said.

Indiana's Representative Erin Houchin shared her experiences from her time in state legislation focused on expanding access to unserved areas first before enhancing speeds elsewhere. She highlighted concerns about funding allocation leading to overbuilding technologies that may not effectively serve those most in need.

The hearing reflects ongoing concerns about how best to manage federal investments in broadband infrastructure amid criticisms of inefficiencies and regulatory hurdles.