DOUBLING DOWN ON FIBER OVERREACH – If Arielle Roth is confirmed to lead the NTIA, she will push for a more technology-neutral approach to the $42.5 billion BEAD program, which is currently fiber-centric. While some critics argue that revising state plans would be nearly impossible, others believe that, given the Trump administration’s track record of swiftly implementing regulatory and changes in other areas, the NTIA could quickly restructure BEAD. Roth has been vocal in her criticism, stating that the program is bogged down with “all kinds of left-wing priorities.”
President Donald Trump has nominated Arielle Roth, telecom director for Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). If confirmed, Roth would oversee federal broadband policy, including the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program—an initiative she has sharply criticized for its regulatory overreach and fiber favoritism.
Under the administration of NTIA chief Allan Davidson, Arielle Roth said that the BEAD program imposed an extreme tech bias in favor of fiber. Davidson, courted by manufacturers and fiber associations, championed that policy. Roth also believes that union mandates should be reviewed.
Roth outlined her concerns with BEAD at a Federalist Society event last June. She argued that the program is hampered by excessive regulations and ideological priorities that undermine its effectiveness.
“The NTIA has just been preoccupied with attaching all kinds of extra legal requirements on BEAD and, you know, honest to honest, a woke social agenda, loading up all kinds of burdens that deter participation in the program and drive up costs,” Roth said.
Roth may advocate for a more technology-neutral stance within the BEAD program. Roth has criticized the current fiber preference, stating that it imposes “extreme tech bias in favor of fiber” and arguing that “a one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t make sense.”
However, many state plans have already been submitted under the existing guidelines, and revising them to accommodate a broader range of technologies would require substantial effort. If they are not quickly implemented, such revisions could further delay a project that has already faced significant postponements, complicating carrying through a more inclusive approach.
Regulatory Burdens Driving Up Costs
Among her chief criticisms were policies she claimed make BEAD unnecessarily expensive and restrictive for broadband providers.
“Requiring states to choose a statewide low-cost, low-income rate is just one of the ways that they’ve imposed extra legal requirements. There’s also climate change regulations, union mandates, wholesale access requirements… all kinds of left-wing priorities on the program that just divert resources away from the overall goal of closing broadband gaps,” Roth said. “This is going to make the program less cost-effective, and it’s going to undermine its goals.”
BEAD’s framework requires participating providers to meet labor, environmental, and affordability conditions set by the NTIA, conditions that Roth argues are beyond what Congress authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021.
Fiber-Only Focus Contradicts Congressional Intent
Roth also criticized NTIA’s strong preference for fiber in the BEAD program, calling it an “extreme tech bias” that ignores the law’s original intent to allow multiple broadband technologies to compete for funding.
“Congress wrote the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in a tech-neutral manner,” Roth said. “Any technology could be eligible for BEAD subsidies provided that they met the performance requirements in the statute.”
Instead, she argued that the NTIA had imposed rules that effectively limit funding to fiber-based projects, making it more difficult for fixed wireless, satellite, and other broadband technologies to participate.
“A one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t make sense,” she said. “That’s just going to make the program more expensive.”
Roth’s stance on BEAD aligns with concerns from industry groups representing fixed wireless and satellite broadband providers. These groups argue that limiting technology options will leave rural communities waiting longer for broadband and drive up deployment costs.
Beyond BEAD: Roth’s Broader Policy Agenda
While BEAD has been the most high-profile broadband program under the NTIA, Roth has also been vocal about broader telecom policy issues, including the Universal Service Fund (USF), digital discrimination rules, and the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) regulatory expansion under former Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
Universal Service Fund: A “Hidden Tax” on Consumers
Roth has called for a complete overhaul of the Universal Service Fund, which helps subsidize broadband for low-income households, schools, libraries, and rural communities. She pointed to the USF’s rising contribution factor—which recently hit 36.3%—as “unsustainable” and “a hidden tax on consumers’ phone bills.”
She rejected proposals to expand the USF funding base to broadband providers or big tech companies, arguing that doing so would “open the floodgates” to more government spending rather than addressing the core issue of unsustainable expansion.
Instead, she backed Senator Cruz’s “blueprint” for USF reform, which calls for Congress to directly fund the program through annual appropriations rather than continuing the current industry-funded model.
“In the long run, that’s the only way to fix the USF, not just pumping more money into it,” Roth said.
FCC Digital Discrimination Rule: A Regulatory Overreach
Roth has also opposed the FCC’s digital discrimination rule, which is currently being challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
She echoed concerns that the rule “goes far beyond what Congress intended” and imposes vague, subjective compliance standards that “could chill broadband investment by creating legal uncertainty for providers.”
Opposition to E-Rate Expansion
Roth has also been critical of the FCC’s expansion of the E-Rate program, a federal initiative designed to provide broadband subsidies to schools and libraries. Under Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s leadership, the FCC expanded the program to include Wi-Fi on school buses and hotspot lending programs—moves that Roth believes stretch the agency’s authority.
Industry and Political Support
Industry groups, particularly those advocating for deregulation and technology neutrality in broadband policy, have widely supported Roth’s nomination.
A WISPA-developed white paper ripped apart the NTIA’s love affair with fiber, indicating that it could result in a $60 billion boondoggle.
Trade organizations such as NATE, INCOMPAS, WISPA, WIA, and ACA Connects have praised her policy positions, while major telecom companies—including AT&T and Comcast—have welcomed her appointment as an opportunity to “course-correct” BEAD and streamline federal broadband policies.
WISPA (Wireless Internet Service Providers Association) framed Roth as a leader who could bring BEAD back to its original intent, making it more technology-neutral and eliminating excessive requirements that limit provider participation and drive up costs.
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association said in a statement that the association has collaborated with Roth in her previous role, working on wireless, telecom, and communications infrastructure policy issues on Capitol Hill.
“Arielle possesses extensive experience and keen knowledge of the many policy and regulatory issues facing the industry and will be able to hit the ground running on day one on the job once confirmed for this position. NATE is excited to work closely with Arielle and urges the United States Senate to schedule her confirmation hearing and vote to approve her nomination in an expedient manner,” said NATE CEO & President Todd Schlekeway.
What’s Next?
Roth’s confirmation hearing has not yet been scheduled, but the Senate Commerce Committee is expected to announce a date in the coming weeks.
With her strong stance on BEAD, the USF, and telecom deregulation, Roth’s nomination will likely spark debate among lawmakers. If confirmed, her leadership at NTIA could mark a significant shift in federal broadband policy, with a greater emphasis on reducing regulations, ensuring technology neutrality, and restructuring funding programs.
One thing is clear: Roth isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo, and her tenure at NTIA could reshape broadband funding allocation for years to come.
