Thune Launching Oversight Review of Federal Broadband Programs

and Jobs Act and other measures. “To ensure rural communities have access to these services, it is critical for federal agencies to efficiently spend funds on the areas that need it the most,” he said: “Every federal dollar that has been spent should go toward the stated purpose of expanding connectivity to truly unserved areas. Congressional oversight has been noticeably absent in these areas, and there is serious concern that the federal government would repeat previous mistakes where agencies’ gross mismanagement of broadband funds fell on the backs of taxpayers across the country. It is time for Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities and hold the government accountable to hardworking taxpayers.” House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio, said oversight of federal broadband money outlays will be a major component of Commerce Committee oversight once the GOP reclaims the majority in January (see 2210310073). A sample letter Thune’s office released Tuesday would press entities to provide information by Jan. 6 on the “organization’s comments on the current broadband regulatory structure and your organization’s priorities” for federal money. Thune’s IIJA-specific questions include whether an entity believes “NTIA followed Congress’ intent in establishing a technology-neutral approach” to the measure’s funding and whether Congress should “consider amending the IIJA statute to make it more explicit that all technologies are allowed to participate.” He also focuses on NTIA’s notice of funding opportunity for the broadband, equity, access and deployment program grants. Senate Commerce Committee Republicans criticized NTIA’s plans for rolling out the BEAD money during a June hearing (see 2206090072).