FCC Democrat: Trump admin is declaring “Mission Accomplished” on broadband

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is facing criticism for its upcoming broadband availability review, as it appears to overlook the crucial issue of Internet service pricing. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez voiced her concerns in a statement, emphasizing that the agency's focus on availability alone fails to capture the full picture of broadband deployment success. Gomez, the sole Democrat on the predominantly Republican commission, remarked, "Some point to existing law to argue that availability is the only metric Congress allows to measure broadband deployment success. But the law does not require this agency to view broadband availability with one eye closed and the other one half-open." On Tuesday, the FCC announced that it had initiated the annual review with a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) intended to align more closely with the statutory language of Section 706. This approach, however, excludes affordability from the criteria of the review, raising eyebrows among advocates and policymakers. In related federal broadband developments, the Trump administration has informed states that they will be excluded from the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program if they impose restrictions on the rates that Internet service providers (ISPs) can charge low-income customers. While ISPs are mandated to offer a 'low-cost' plan, the administration is allowing providers to determine the prices for these plans themselves. Furthermore, the administration has relaxed funding criteria for satellite providers like Starlink, potentially limiting the number of households that could gain access to fiber Internet through the BEAD program. Gomez expressed her concerns about these changes, stating, "As the Commerce Department seeks to redefine the goals of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, one must wonder if this is a coordinated effort to roll out the 'Mission Accomplished' banner as millions remain without access to a fast, reliable, and affordable way to participate in the main aspects of modern life."