SPEED for BEAD Act
House Committee Reviews SPEED for BEAD Act to Strip Union, DEI Rules From Broadband Grants
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Renames the federal broadband program by swapping the word “Equity” for “Expansion,” without changing the basic goal of building internet networks.
- If a state doesn’t use all its broadband grant money by the deadline, the unused money would be moved to the U.S. Treasury’s general fund instead of staying available for broadband.
- Limits what federal or state officials can require in broadband grant bidding, like rules tied to union labor, local hiring, climate change, certain network practices, or diversity and inclusion.
- Says states must treat any technology as eligible if it meets the program’s performance standards, rather than steering money toward certain types of networks.
- Bars states and the federal broadband office from using the grant program to regulate or cap what internet companies charge customers. राज्यों can’t set rates even through grant scoring.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
5 articles
Rep. Hudson Bows New Bill to Change Key Terms in BEAD Program
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) introduced the SPEED for BEAD Act to eliminate 'unnecessary and expensive regulations' in the $42.5 billion broadband program. The bill seeks to remove labor rules, climate requirements, and DEI goals while ensuring the program is technology-neutral.
New bill seeks to speed up BEAD – but it could backfire
The SPEED for BEAD Act aims to fast-track rural broadband by swapping 'Equity' for 'Expansion' and removing fiber preferences. While it could benefit satellite providers like Starlink, analysts warn it may force states to revise existing plans, potentially causing further deployment delays.
What's new with BEAD? Here's what we know so far
The SPEED for BEAD Act, introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson, seeks to remove requirements related to rate regulation, prevailing wages, climate resilience, and DEI initiatives. It aligns with a broader 'rigorous review' of the program by the Commerce Department to prioritize low-cost outcomes.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
SPEED for BEAD Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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