At least two more companies have announced compliance with Build America, Buy America guidelines in recent weeks. The guidelines are designed to boost American manufacturing by specifying that equipment used in government funded broadband or other projects must use certain components manufactured in the U.S. and/or have certain processes completed in the U.S.
A key program that will be subject to the Buy America guidelines is the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Bekaert Guy Strand
Just last week, Bekaert – a global provider of guy strand used in aerial cable installations – announced that it has successfully met the Buy America guidelines, which were established by NTIA, the agency that administers the BEAD program.
The specific product involved is Bekaert’s messenger and guy strand, which acts as the backbone or support for aerial communications lines. The messenger strand is manufactured at a facility in Van Buren, Arkansas.
In a prepared statement, Bekaert Market Manager for Energy Dan Berkowitz cited data from research firm RVA stating that Bekaert’s offerings help support the connection of nine million homes.
STL Fiber and Superior Essex Cabling
Also this month, Paul Atkinson, CEO of Optical Networking for global manufacturer Sterlite Technologies (STL), said in an email to Telecompetitor that its optical fiber cable products manufactured at a facility in Lugoff, South Carolina comply with Buy America requirements.
Lumos recently chose STL products to support fiber broadband expansion plans.
Superior Essex previously announced Buy America compliance but made a point of issuing a press release earlier this month to confirm that the company’s outside plant and premises copper and fiber products are in compliance with Buy America requirements. The company noted that its compliance was related to NTIA’s waiver of certain Buy America requirements issued in late February.
