State Leaders Urge Federal Government to Maintain BEAD Program Stability

State officials are calling on Washington to allow continuity in the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program amid uncertainty following Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's announcement of a "rigorous review." While House Republicans criticized the program during a recent subcommittee hearing, state leaders from both parties are urging federal officials not to disrupt progress.
Missouri State Representative Louis Riggs, a Republican, bluntly stated: "Leave it alone; let the states do what they've done." He emphasized that states have developed expertise and infrastructure to deploy broadband effectively, expanding offices and refining maps to ensure accurate service delivery.
Vermont's Community Broadband Board officials expressed concern about potential federal interference, with Deputy Director Robert Fish noting that changes to the program "keeps me up at night." West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito supports improvements but doesn't want her state to face delays or redoing applications.
Several states have already begun awarding grants, though others like Texas have paused programs amid federal uncertainty. Former NTIA Deputy Administrator Sarah Morris captured the sentiment: "States are on the one-yard line... anything that will set that back or create more redundant work... will be frustrating."