RELEASE: REP. HILL APPLAUDS ADMINISTRATION'S BROADBAND REFORMS, URGES CONTINUED FOCUS TO CONNECT RURAL ARKANSAS

Washington, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick applauding the administration for its strong leadership in reforming the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and urging continued efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently to expand reliable internet access across Arkansas and the United States.

Rep. Hill said, "Internet access is essential to daily life, yet 120,000 homes and businesses across Arkansas still lack reliable broadband. For nearly four years, the BEAD program under the Biden Administration was tied up by red tape that drove up costs and delayed deployment. Despite spending billions, not a single home was connected during that time. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Lutnick, BEAD is now focused on cutting costs, boosting competition, and delivering for the American people. In Arkansas alone, these changes mean hundreds of millions in savings and expanded opportunities for local providers. This is proof that when results are prioritized over bureaucracy, taxpayers win - and Arkansas is leading the way."

Background:

Congress appropriated $42.45 billion to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to administer the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand high-speed internet access nationwide. According to NTIA data, nearly four years after its creation, no homes had been connected under BEAD. In June 2025, the Administration issued the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, which removed requirements related to labor, climate, fiber-only mandates, and rate regulation in order to streamline implementation. Arkansas projects more than $275 million in savings under the revised framework and has provisionally awarded over $200 million to Arkansas-based internet service providers.

Read the full letter HERE.