Evan Feinman, the director of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, has been removed from his post by the Trump administration amid a broader review of the program. This move is part of a larger reassessment of the initiative, which aims to improve broadband access, particularly in underserved rural areas.
The U.S. Commerce Department is now considering adjustments to the program’s requirements, including relaxing its “fiber-first” mandate and expanding eligibility to include satellite internet providers. These proposed changes come as policymakers continue to debate the most effective way to expand broadband access across the country, especially in rural communities where connectivity remains a challenge.
The BEAD program, launched to address the digital divide, faces pressure to balance technological preferences, such as fiber optic networks, with the practical need for faster, more versatile solutions like satellite internet.
