WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 19, 2025 – INCOMPAS, the competitive communications and AI infrastructure association, filed comments yesterday to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to their request for written feedback on how to use Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Programs funds saved through the Trump Administration and Secretary Lutnick’s Benefit of the Bargain reforms.
The following statement can be attributed to Staci Pies, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Policy at INCOMPAS:
“The BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice re-centered the program on cost-effective, technology-neutral builds and contemplated updated parameters for non-deployment uses. Continuing the positive work of this restructuring, INCOMPAS recommends that NTIA now clarify how Benefit of the Bargain savings will support permitting improvements, national AI policy alignment, and other implementation enablers.
We recommend a state-flexible, federally coherent approach that empowers local decision-makers, aligns with national policy, and accelerates universal broadband access and U.S. AI competitiveness. INCOMPAS offers recommendations in four areas central to BEAD’s success:
- Encourage adoption of processes, such as Permitting Council-state memorandum of understanding, and digital tools to facilitate streamlined permitting to lower deployment costs and shorten project timelines.
- Incentivize state AI regulatory alignment using Benefit of the Bargain funding availability to reduce compliance fragmentation that impedes multi-state deployments and AI-enabled network operations.
- Facilitate investment in AI connectivity infrastructure, like ultra-high-capacity fiber routes, data centers, internet exchange points, cloud on-ramps and regional innovation hubs, to support BEAD investments and regional innovation.
- Support workforce development for an AI-enabled economy through empowering states to use Benefit of the Bargain funds for comprehensive training programs.
INCOMPAS looks forward to working with NTIA on the implementation details that will further enable timely, affordable deployment, reinforced by the Benefit of the Bargain savings.”
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