Industry Associations Urge NTIA Action on Buy America Guidelines for BEAD Projects
A crucial step would be for the NTIA to provide Buy America waivers for BEAD-funded projects, panelists said.

A crucial step would be for the NTIA to provide Buy America waivers for BEAD-funded projects, panelists said.
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2023 – Industry experts called on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to promptly provide clear guidelines on the implications of Buy America requirements for projects funded by the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, now that states have already been informed of their funding allocations.
Fiber deployment emerges as a common thread despite vastly different market conditions.
Permitting delays, transmission backlogs, siting fights, and supply chain gaps top the list.
The agency is investigating the company, along with Comcast and Verizon, over diversity practices.
Outdated permitting systems could stymie nuclear projects needed for tomorrow’s data centers, panelists said.