D.C. Memo: Montana Broadband Official Calls NTIA's BEAD Management 'Chaotic'

◾ DOJ Wants Soo Kim's Racial Discrimination Case Against Rosenworcel Dismissed ◾ Rosenworcel: Fifth Circuit 'Extreme' on USF ◾ Jarkesy Creating Division within FCC ◾ Attorney Outlines AI Risks to TV

Montana: Montana's top broadband official is accusing the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of managing the $42.25 billion BEAD program in a "chaotic" manner, making it difficult for states to understand and implement a complex regulatory scheme. "NTIA's functional requests are akin to building a plane while flying it without having the necessary instructions to be successful. NTIA has provided either no guidance, guidance given too late, or guidance changing midstream, all with a lack of appreciation for state operations and costs and the needs of our telecommunication providers – this has created a chaotic implementation environment," says Misty Ann Giles, Director and Chief Operating Officer, Montana Department of Administration, in testimony she is expected to deliver today before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Giles, who works for Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, also complained that Montana "received conflicting or even new and changed guidance after submitting our plans or beginning a previously approved NTIA operational process." She said the challenge process to prevent overbuilding was dysfunctional. "As states were actively drafting their model challenge processes, NTIA changed the process several times." She also questioned NTIA's approach to making key BEAD adjustments. Last month, Montana said it was the first state to start accepting BEAD award applications from entities that will use the money to deploy broadband infrastructure. "After we began taking applications on Aug. 14, NTIA issued proposed guidance on Alternative Technologies. While much of the guidance is helpful and needed, it has come at the 11th hour for Montana." NTIA's "Alternative Technologies" guidance referred to allocating BEAD money to satellite Internet provider Starlink and unlicensed fixed wireless operators. Both technologies could help a large, rural state like Montana, which has a population density of 7.4 people per square mile.