The US government has started a public consultation on how to distribute new public broadband funding. The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) called for public comment on a range of policy and program considerations associated with new broadband grant programs funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These include the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program, and the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program.
The law passed in November 2021 provides USD 65 billion to expand broadband across the US. Of those funds, USD 48.2 billion is allocated to NTIA to deploy broadband to unserved and underserved locations, create more low-cost broadband service options, deploy middle mile infrastructure, and address digital equity and inclusion needs. NTIA said it is interested in input on the program design, policy issues, and implementation considerations for these new programs in order to meet the goals set by the law and Biden government.
Comments can be submitted until 04 February, and the NTIA also will hold "listening sessions" online during January and February to gather feedback. NTIA intends to release an additional request for comment to address the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.
