SE Wyoming News

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) have sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris, criticizing her management of federal broadband initiatives. In 2021, President Biden assigned Harris to lead the expansion of broadband services to rural and unserved communities.

The $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program has reportedly not connected any individuals to the internet under Harris' leadership. This lack of progress is particularly affecting rural states like Wyoming.

“The digital divide is most apparent in the Cowboy State’s most rural communities, and it is past time for the broadband czar to do her job and use the BEAD program to eliminate the difficulties people in Wyoming face when trying to access reliable broadband services. It is critical for Kamala Harris to prioritize deploying broadband throughout the west,” said Lummis.

The senators expressed their concerns about what they describe as poor management and ineffectiveness despite significant federal investments. They highlighted that Congress provided $42.45 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the BEAD program, intended to provide broadband access to unserved communities.

In 2021, Harris was tasked by President Biden with leading efforts to expand broadband services. At that time, she stated, “we can bring broadband to rural America today.” However, according to Lummis and Thune, no progress has been made under her leadership.

The senators also criticized additional requirements imposed by the administration on infrastructure projects which they claim have obstructed deployment efforts. These include climate change mandates, prioritization of government-owned networks over private investment, mandatory use of unionized labor in certain states, and attempts to regulate broadband rates.

They argue that these actions have caused delays and left millions of Americans without connectivity. The letter concludes by stating that this represents a misuse of taxpayer dollars and that "the American public deserves better."

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