Kamala Harris Under Blast by US Republican Senators, Over ‘Mismanagement Of Federal Broadband Investments

 

Nine Republican Senators have expressed serious concerns about Vice President Kamala D. Harris's handling of federal broadband initiatives, accusing her of mismanagement akin to her role as "border czar." 

In a letter signed by the US Senators; John Thune, Roger F. Wicker, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Budd, Eric S. Schmitt, Ted Cruz, Deb Fischer, Todd Young, and Cynthia Lummis on Wednesday, they highlight poor oversight and lack of effectiveness despite substantial investments and promises to enhance rural broadband access.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $42.45 billion to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. 

This funding was designated to provide broadband to underserved communities, particularly in rural areas. However, according to the Senators, "not a single person has been connected to the internet" using these funds under Harris's leadership.

In 2021, President Biden tasked Harris with leading efforts to expand broadband services, with Harris declaring, "we can bring broadband to rural America today." Despite these assurances, rural and unserved communities still lack the promised connectivity, they said. 

Recent reports, including from Politico, have described "the messy, delayed rollout" of the BEAD program.

The Senators criticise the administration for adding partisan and extralegal requirements, such as climate change mandates, prioritisation of government-owned networks, and regulation of broadband rates. 

These actions, the letter claims, have obstructed broadband deployment and caused unnecessary delays, leaving millions of Americans without internet access.

The Senators conclude that the administration’s approach represents a misuse of taxpayer dollars and fails to meet the needs of the American people, stating that "the American public deserves better."

The statement reads, “Dear Vice President Harris:
“We are writing to express serious concerns regarding your role as the Biden-Harris administration's "broadband czar" and the mismanagement of federal broadband initiatives under your leadership. It appears that your performance as "broadband czar" has mirrored your performance as "border czar," marked by poor management and a lack of effectiveness despite significant federal broadband investments and your promises to deliver broadband to rural areas.

“As you are aware, Congress, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provided the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with $42.45 billion for the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. These funds are intended to provide broadband access to unserved communities, particularly those in rural areas.

“In 2021, you were specifically tasked by President Biden to lead the administration's efforts to expand broadband services to unserved Americans. And at the time, you stated, "we can bring broadband to rural America today." Despite your assurances over three years ago, rural and unserved communities continue to wait for the connectivity they were promised. Under your leadership, not a single person has been connected to the internet using the $42.45 billion allocated for the BEAD program. Indeed, Politico recently reported on "the messy, delayed rollout of this program.

“Instead of focusing on delivering broadband services to unserved areas, your administration has used the BEAD program to add partisan, extralegal requirements that were never envisioned by Congress and have obstructed broadband deployment. By imposing burdensome climate change mandates on infrastructure projects, prioritizing government-owned networks over private investment, mandating the use of unionized labor in states, and seeking to regulate broadband rates, your administration has caused unnecessary delays leaving millions of Americans unconnected.

“The administration's lack of focus on truly connecting the unconnected has failed the American people and represents a gross misuse of limited taxpayer dollars. The American public deserves better.”