U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell has expressed criticism over the recent changes announced by Commerce Secretary Lutnick regarding the BEAD broadband program. Cantwell, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, voiced her concerns in a statement.
Cantwell stated, "Sec. Lutnick’s so-called 'reform' of the BEAD program won’t connect a single household to highspeed internet anytime soon." She argued that the decision to make states discard years of planning and restart their selection processes would lead to significant delays in broadband deployment.
The senator emphasized that this bureaucratic shift could postpone broadband expansion by at least another year or more, affecting rural families and small businesses who remain disconnected from essential services. Cantwell criticized these changes as part of political maneuvering that jeopardizes the future connectivity needs of Americans.
In addition to these challenges, Cantwell highlighted that Senate Republicans have introduced an AI moratorium proposal which she believes complicates matters further. According to her, this move "holds the $42 billion BEAD program hostage," exacerbating difficulties for those waiting for reliable internet access.
Cantwell's statement underscores ongoing debates about how best to manage and deploy resources intended for expanding broadband access across underserved regions in the United States.
