Montana’s Chief Operating Officer Blasts NTIA’s BEAD Implementation

WASHINGTON, September 9, 2024 - The Commerce Department agency responsible for administering President Biden’s federal broadband program has provided contradictory guidance, or no guidance at all, to state broadband officials. 

That was the message of Montana's broadband officer, Misty Ann Giles, in a testimony released on Monday ahead of Tuesday's hearing before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. The agency, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, is not scheduled to have a witness at the hearing.

House Republicans have maintained concerns about NTIA’s management of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program. These concerns were punctuated by Giles’ written testimony.