NTIA Foolishly Ignores Calls for Extension of Broadband Map Challenge Deadline

Despite calls from many observers (including the Taxpayers Protection Alliance) to do so, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) decided to not push back its January 13 deadline for states to challenge the accuracy of the national broadband map.

The January 13 date was established for states to provide feedback about discrepancies in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) map for the purposes of funding from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. NTIA published a blog the date of the deadline, putting its foot down on its stance. The administration reiterated its June 30 date for allocating BEAD funding to each state and territory, and emphasized it needed to keep that January 13 deadline to ensure that goal is met.The NTIA said that since the map was released in November, it has held one-on-one sessions with dozens of states and territories and their broadband offices, as well as engaged with more than a dozen advocacy organizations to discuss how to submit challenges. The post noted that while the NTIA has received requests to delay the timeline from some states and other stakeholders, other states told the administration it should keep its deadline so they can begin developing their plans and subgrant programs as quickly as possible.“Unfortunately, a delay in the timeline would mean a delay in providing funding to communities who desperately need it, and it will not address many of the process concerns we have heard,” the post said. “Every day we delay is another day that communities are not connected. We feel the urgency to getting this funding out the door so it can be put to work for everyone in America.”Broadband Breakfast …