The head of rural internet expansion at the Commerce Department sent a critical email to coworkers expressing concerns that funds for rural broadband might soon shift towards supporting Elon Musk’s Starlink project, even though it offers relatively inferior service compared to alternatives.
The over-1,100-word email, initially uncovered by Politico The document was authored by Evan Feinman, who serves as the director of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program (BEAD) at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
As part of the Department of Commerce, BEAD represents a $42.5 billion initiative established in 2021 aimed at enhancing broadband connectivity nationwide via projects such as building out infrastructure and providing financial support.
Feinman has been at the helm of the project since 2022, however, he declared that his final day in this position would be March 14. This announcement came as part of a stark message issued to his coworkers on Sunday regarding the program’s prospects and allegations of favoritism within the Trump administration.
It wasn't clear if he had been let go or if he was stepping down from the position willingly.
"Leaving parts of rural America with poor internet connectivity to enrich the wealthiest person in the world is just another betrayal by Washington," Feinman stated in the email, as reported by Politico.
The head of BEAD expressed disappointment at being unable to oversee the project to completion and cautioned against transforming BEAD into "a benefit technology offering lower speeds at increased expenses for the households footing the bill"—alluding to Musk’s satellite internet service, which is operated under his aerospace manufacturer SpaceX.
“Reach out to your congressional delegation and reach out to the Trump Administration and tell them to strip out the needless requirements, but not to strip away from states the flexibility to get the best connections for their people,” Feinman continued.
The Daily Beast has contacted the Commerce Department, NTIA, and SpaceX for comment.
In recent years, BEAD has faced bipartisan disagreement due to its focus on fiber initiatives, known for their superior speeds and durability. However, these projects are not without drawbacks as they require extended deployment times and come with higher costs.
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick slammed the program in a statement Earlier this month when he declared he would initiate a "thorough examination."
"In 2021, Congress established the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) initiative with the aim of enhancing American citizens' access to high-speed internet. However, due to the previous administration's ideological requirements, biased preferences for specific technologies, and stringent regulatory measures, the program hasn’t managed to connect even one individual as yet and urgently requires recalibration," stated Lutnick.
"Leading the way, I have initiated a thorough examination of the BEAD program within the Commerce Department," he went on to say.
The department is removing the unnecessary regulations put in place by the Biden administration. They are restructuring the BEAD program to adopt a technology-agnostic strategy focused solely on achieving measurable outcomes, enabling states to deliver internet connectivity at minimal expense. Furthermore, they are looking into methods to reduce bureaucratic hurdles that hinder infrastructure development.
Read more at The Daily Beast.
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