Trump Administration Pushes to Revamp $42.5 Billion Broadband Program

Proposed changes could prioritize satellite internet providers like Elon Musk's Starlink over fiber-optic networks in rural connectivity efforts.

The Trump administration is exploring significant changes to the Biden-era Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which aims to connect rural Americans to high-speed internet.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has emphasized a 'tech-neutral' approach, favoring cost-effective solutions that could benefit satellite providers like Starlink over fiber-optic networks.
Fiber-optic networks, while more expensive to build, are widely regarded as more reliable and affordable for consumers compared to satellite services, which face criticism over higher costs and lower reliability.
States and Congress, including some Republican senators, have expressed concerns about the potential economic and legal disruptions of overhauling the program, which has bipartisan support and promises significant job creation and economic growth.
Critics argue that the proposed changes could disproportionately benefit Elon Musk’s Starlink, raising questions about conflicts of interest and the long-term implications for rural infrastructure development.