Congressional Republicans Want Access to BEAD Records

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2025 – New bicameral legislation sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., would attempt to increase transparency in the federal government’s broadband expansion efforts by subjecting decisionmaking processes to public scrutiny.

The Broadband Buildout Accountability Act would apply the Freedom of Information Act to actions and decisions made by the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in overseeing the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.

“[The act] will provide greater transparency within the BEAD process, help Congress reverse Biden Administration policies that slow down deployment, and ensure that the $42 billion in taxpayer dollars in broadband investments are being properly used to close the digital divide across America,” Pfluger said in a joint Feb. 27 statement.