NTIA Proposes Limited Waiver for BABA Requirements

The NTIA released a blog proposing a limited and targeted waiver of Build America, Buy America provisions for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program that follows a strict approach to enforcing rules that protect and create American jobs. The policies recommended in this draft waiver will ensure that close to 90% of BEAD funding spent on equipment will be spent on that which is manufactured in the United States. As a result of these efforts, NTIA also established criteria to prioritize products targeted for onshoring.

Specifically, NTIA proposes the following waivers to the Buy America requirements:

• The overclad cylinder of fiber optic cables may be sourced outside the U.S. But the optical glass inside those cables must still comply with the Buy America rules.
• Enclosures such as pedestals, terminals and fiber distribution frames that house active electronics and fiber splits or splices may be sourced outside the U.S.
• All electronics in BEAD Program projects may use components sourced outside of the U.S. with the exception of four categories of electronics: 1) optical line terminals (OLTs) and remote optical line terminals; 2) OLT line cards; 3) optic pluggables; and 4) optical network terminals (ONTs) and optical network units. All four of these categories must source at least 55% of their components from within the U.S. However, other types of electronics in fiber networks, such as routers, switches, optical amplifiers and power systems may be sourced outside the U.S. And components of fixed wireless networks such as antennas may also be sourced outside the U.S.

View the summary and more information on the proposed waiver.

Stakeholders will have an opportunity to comment on this proposal on or before September 21, 2023. Comments can be submitted to BABA@ntia.gov with the subject “BEAD Program Non-availability Waiver.” 

NTIA Seeks Input on Additional questions for Middle Mile Reports

The NTIA is seeking comment from the general public and other federal agencies on adding 11 questions regarding equipment purchases to the reports that recipients of Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program funding will be required to submit twice a year. Comments are due October 23, prior to NTIA’s submitting proposed changes to the data collection to the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The questions, which will be part of an addendum to the report, will require the funding recipient to “discuss the six-month period immediately preceding the report date, in a manner that:

1. Lists the Buyer.
2. Describes the Category of the Purchase.
3. Describes where the Purchase will be located and how it will be used.
4. Quantifies the number being purchased.
5. Asks the country from which the Purchase is sourced.
6. If a foreign source, describes the efforts made to source domestically.
7. Lists the Manufacturer.
8. Lists the Purchase Price.
9. Lists the Purchase Date.
10. Lists the Estimated Delivery Date.
11. Lists the Actual Delivery Date.

Award recipients will submit the Middle Mile Reports Addendum as part of the Bi-Annual Performance Reports for the periods ending March 31 and September 30 of each year. NTIA will collect data through electronic submission.

NTIA Hosting Aug. 29 Webinar on Addressing Homework Gap

Libraries and schools often form partnerships to creatively address their local “homework gap,” or barriers that some students face to complete online schoolwork without reliable access to high-speed internet. This Tuesday, August 29 at 2 p.m. ET, the NTIA will host a webinar that features real world examples of how these community anchor institutions work together to provide students with access to hotspots and devices. It will also cover how they are empowering students with the knowledge and skills needed to complete online assignments, as well as the utilize the wealth of information and educational resources available on the internet.

Speakers include:

• Larra Clark, Deputy Director, Public Library Association 
• Amanda Kordeliski, Board Member, American Association of School Librarians and Director of Libraries and Instructional Technology, Norman (Oklahoma) Public Schools
• Misty Hawkins, Director, Arkansas River Regional Library System
• Kevin Kelley, Associate Director of School Age Program and Services from the New York Public Library.

USDA Announces Fourth Round of Reconnect Grants and Loans

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that it will invest a further $667 million in grants and loans to connect thousands of rural addresses in 22 states and the Marshall Islands through the ReConnect Program, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

“Keeping the people of rural America connected with reliable, high-speed internet brings new and innovative ideas to the rest of our country and creates good-paying jobs along the way,” said Vilsack. “These investments will support economic growth and prosperity for generations to come.” 

ReConnect investments are creating opportunities for people regardless of their zip code to have a connection for more, he said. Monday’s announcement includes $667 million in USDA investments in Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and the Marshall Islands.

Of the $667 million announced, $493 million will be through grants and $174 million through loans. It will fund 37 projects.

Nominations Sought for USAC Board

The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau issued a public notice seeking nominations for six positions on the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) board of directors for a three-year term.

Nominations are beings ought for representatives from:

• ILECs (non-Bell Operating Companies) with $40 million or less in annual revenues
• CLECs
• Low-income consumers
• IXCs with annual operating revenues of $3 billion or less
• Schools eligible to receive discounts
• Rural health care providers

Nominations are due Oct. 24, 2023.

Sen. Cantwell Calls for AI Bill to Prepare Workers for Future Jobs

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, last week hosted a Future of AI forum and panel discussion. The event focused on how innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) are critical to tackling challenges like climate change and natural disasters, the need to build and train a skilled workforce and how Congress can ensure AI is deployed safely and equitably.

The panel featured the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Dr. Laurie Locascio, AI industry leaders from Microsoft and Amazon, and representatives from the University of Washington, Washington State University, Allen Institute for AI and the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.