This afternoon, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing for Arielle Roth to become the next Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. As such, Roth would become the director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
In Roth’s prepared testimony statement, she said, “One of the most pressing tasks ahead of us is ensuring that we finish the job of expanding broadband access to unserved communities.
“Thanks to Congress’s historic, bipartisan investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, NTIA has a responsibility to ensure that these funds are spent efficiently, expeditiously, and consistent with the law as written by Congress. I look forward to working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the BEAD Program is a success and lives up to its bipartisan legacy.”
Arielle Roth NTIA Hearing Highlights
During the hearing, Roth faced several questions related to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, especially related to areas around the speed of the Program and the deployment of satellite broadband.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the Committee chair, said NTIA had saddled BEAD with “extraneous and burdensome requirements,” the result of which is that no American has yet been connected to the internet via BEAD. He asked Roth: “Will you commit to working closely with this Committee to remove these extraneous requirements?”
“I want the BEAD Program to be a success,” Roth answered. “I want to connect every remaining American who currently lacks access to high-speed internet as expeditiously, efficiently, and effectively as possible. I believe we can deliver on this goal, and I’m committed to it.”
Cruz went on: “Right-sizing BEAD may involve removing the thumb on the scale that the Biden administration placed on fiber… BEAD was written to be tech-neutral.” He then asked Roth, “Will you commit to overseeing the BEAD Program with an eye towards deploying broadband without favor to any particular technology, individual, or company?”
“If I’m confirmed, my mission will be to deliver broadband to the American people, not to serve any individual or company,” Roth, the new NTIA director, answered.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), “If confirmed, would you implement a spending limit on the Program?”
“I would want to speak confer with NTIA’s distinguished career staff,” Roth answered.
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) pressed Roth on the point about satellite technology, particularly with regard to Starlink: “How are you going to ensure that you are administering [BEAD] without favor to a particular technology or company, particularly one that is overseen by somebody who has a very outsized role in this administration, Elon Musk?”
“I believe that Congress wrote the BEAD legislation in a tech-neutral manner, and tech-neutral goes both ways,” said Roth. She went on to say that both fiber and other technologies are needed.
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware), representing one of the first states to have its BEAD Final Proposal approved, asked, “Will you commit to allowing states with approved plans to choose the broadband delivery technology that works best for their individual situations?”
“I certainly recognize that we have a diverse country with diverse geography, and… a one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t necessarily make sense,” Roth answered. “That’s why we need all of these above solutions to delivering broadband.”
Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) asked the most forceful questions about BEAD and satellite broadband technology. Regarding BEAD, Markey pointed out that Massachusetts is currently accepting applications and Arkansas just completed their Round 2 application process. “Given the Commerce Department’s review, should states just stop accepting applications and indefinitely pause their program[s] and just save the money?”
Roth said she has not yet had a chance to confer with NTIA’s career staff. “I haven’t been involved in the review process. I would hope that any review conducted by NTIA is expeditious, with the goal of expediting build-outs.”
“Will you commit to a quick timeline for when the review will be complete?” Markey countered.
“My goal would be a very expeditious timeline,” Roth said.
Markey went on to ask about “a specific change that the Trump administration seems to be pushing for BEAD — turning the Program into a subsidy for Elon Musk’s Starlink, under the guise of making the Program quote ‘technology-neutral.’ The Trump administration may eliminate the Program’s preference for fiber, and make satellite providers like Starlink eligible for BEAD funding in all circumstances. Ms. Roth, do you support that change?”
“Senator, as I’ve said before,” Roth answered, “I would administer the law consistent with the statute and to the benefit of the American people, not for any specific individual or company. I do believe that Congress wrote the law in a technology-neutral manner, and that means an all-of-the-above solution that recognizes different realities across different parts of the country.”
“Let’s be clear,” Markey said, “the BEAD Program never excluded satellite broadband but it did limit it to areas where fiber was excessively expensive. That was in the law. And that’s because while satellite broadband may be cheaper to deploy in some locations in the short-term, it costs far more to service and maintain in the long run. So, Ms. Roth, do you agree that fiber is a cheaper technology in the long run?”
“Senator, I would want to confer with NTIA’s career staff before assessing a particular product or technology, and I look forward to working with you to ensure that Massachusetts gets what it needs,” Roth answered.
“It’s not just Massachusetts,” Markey said, “it’s the whole country. This satellite versus fiber question is very central. According to a Bloomberg article yesterday, for example, one state official found that fiber would save households $15,600 over a 30-year period.”
Markey concluded, “Ms. Roth, I strongly urge you to oppose this giveaway to Elon Musk and ensure that the BEAD Program delivers for all Americans, and that we not adopt a more costly approach, because that surely will drain the funding that could have been used more efficiently.”
Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan) asked about state flexibility with regard to BEAD: “Will you work to ensure states have the broadest-possible flexibility in how they use their funds?”
“I certainly agree with the goal of ensuring that states have what they need to get broadband to their constituents as quickly as possible. I will abide by the law,” Roth said.
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) asked if Roth could confirm that the NTIA would pay out the BEAD allocations made in 2023 in to each state, a question directly related to the Trump administration’s attempt at a funding pause earlier this year.
“Senator, I will abide by the law,” Roth answered.
“Is your interpretation of the law that yes, you will go ahead and make those allocations?” Cantwell asked.
“I can’t commit to any specific outcome as I haven’t been confirmed, but I will certainly—”
“You’re saying you don’t know what the administration is going to do,” Cantwell cut in. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“I haven’t been confirmed yet, I haven’t had an opportunity to look into this issue yet.”
“Well yo know the policy, though,” Cantwell said. “You do know the policy, right? You know that was our intent. And the money’s now been allocated, so the question is whether you think those commitments made in 2023 should be upheld.”
“If confirmed, I look forward to reviewing those allocations and ensuring that the Program is compliant with the law. I will always abide by the law, Senator, and I look forward to working with you on the BEAD Program,” Roth answered.
“Thank you. I would have liked a stronger commitment,” Cantwell said.
Cruz closed the meeting saying he had 15 letters of support from “various organizations” for Roth’s nomination. He said senators would have until close of business Monday, March 31 to submit any questions on the record for Roth, and that Roth would have until Friday, April 4 to respond. He then adjourned the hearing.
