Leading broadband industry associations have come together to launch a series of monthly educational webinars for state broadband leaders, NTIA, communities, ISPs and key stakeholders focused on key topics related to the $42.45 billion NTIA BEAD broadband infrastructure funding program implementation and deployment.

The next 30-minute webinar - How Can Permitting & ROW Affect Broadband Deployment - is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14 at 1 p.m. ET.

An unprecedented amount of money will be flowing through states to expand all types of infrastructure. As a result, local and state agencies will likely experience a large influx of applications for infrastructure permits, and many private landowners will also receive applicants for easement rights, required for the resulting broadband deployments. On this webinar, CCA, NRECA and NRTC will discuss some of the things states will need to consider when crafting their state broadband plan, given the NTIA BEAD rules require states to address potential barriers to deployment.

Register here to attend this webinar.

Panelists:

• Angela Simpson, General Counsel/Senior Vice President of Legal & Regulatory Affairs, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA)
• Brian M. O’Hara, Senior Director Regulatory Issues – Telecom & Broadband, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
• Teresa Ferguson, Sr. Director Broadband and Infrastructure Funding, National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC)

Replays of the first three installments in this series of monthly webinars are also available:

• Broadband Supply Chain Mitigation Strategies for NTIA BEAD
• Leveraging BEAD for Workforce Development
• Meeting BEAD Affordability Requirements

As part of its “Internet for All” Webinar Series, NTIA is hosting a Permitting 101 webinar on Wednesday, December 14 at 3 p.m. ET that will provide a wide overview on permitting as it relates to broadband infrastructure programs. Topics covered will include: 

• State, Local and Private Permitting
• Pole Attachments
• One-Touch Make-Ready (OTMR)
• Conduit Access and Dig Once Policies
• NEPA/EHP and BEAD NOFO Requirements

Speaker include:

• Stephanie Henning, Broadband Program Specialist, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, NTIA
• Amanda Pereira, Environmental and NEPA Specialist, First Responder Network Authority
• Scott Lively, Broadband Program Specialist, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, NTIA (moderator)

Register here to attend this webinar.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) announced that he will be launching an oversight effort to review the broadband programs of federal agencies, including the NTIA, FCC, USDA and Department of Treasury. Thune said the goal of this effort is to hold these agencies accountable and ensure previously authorized broadband funding is being used in the most efficient way.

Thune is seeking input from broadband associations, public interest groups and free market think tanks. He aand asked for responses to questions by January 6, 2023. INCOMPAS was included and plans to begin working on its response before the Christmas holidays. If you have input for us, please email Angie Kronenberg or Andrew Mincheff.

Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband, will convene a subcommittee hearing titled “Ensuring Solutions to Meet America’s Broadband Needs” on Tuesday, December 13 at 10 a.m. ET. Millions of Americans live in rural, Tribal and low-income urban areas that do not have access to affordable broadband. This hearing will examine ongoing and past efforts within the public and private sectors to bring affordable, resilient and secure broadband to all communities.

Witnesses include:

• Kimball Sekaquaptewa, Chair, Connect New Mexico Council; Chief Technology Director, Santa Fe Indian School
• Hon. Michael Powell, President and CEO, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
• Jonathan Spalter, President and CEO, USTelecom
• Angela Siefer, Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance

Watch the live hearing at www.commerce.senate.gov.

Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), joined by Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), introduced the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act. The bipartisan legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code to ensure that funding directed for the implementation of broadband from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) would not be considered taxable income.

This bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), and joined by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.).

Grants awarded to industry for the purposes of broadband deployment are currently factored into a company’s income and will soon be subjected to additional taxes due to scheduled changes to the corporate tax code that begin next year. In response to this issue, this bipartisan legislation excludes broadband deployment grants awarded through the IIJA and ARP from an organization’s income, ensuring the entirety of federal dollars awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband around the country are used to connect Americans.