WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 2025
A key U.S. Senate committee has approved former President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the federal government’s $42 billion broadband expansion initiative, advancing the selection to the full Senate for confirmation.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted on Thursday to move forward with the nomination of Mark Hollinger, a former telecom executive and policy adviser with ties to the Trump administration, to serve as administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) — the agency tasked with managing the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
The BEAD program, created under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is the largest federal investment in internet infrastructure in U.S. history, aiming to connect underserved and rural communities to high-speed broadband by the end of the decade.
Hollinger, who previously served as deputy chief of staff at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during the Trump presidency, has been a vocal proponent of public-private partnerships and deregulation to speed up broadband deployment.
“This is about cutting red tape and getting service to people who’ve waited too long,” Hollinger said during his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
His nomination has drawn support from Republicans who argue that his industry experience will streamline the disbursement of funds and improve accountability. But several Democrats raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest, given his past roles in the private sector and his emphasis on reducing federal oversight.
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Commerce Committee, abstained from endorsing Hollinger, citing unanswered questions about his past lobbying activity and the safeguards he would implement to ensure transparency in fund allocation.
“This program isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s about trust,” Cantwell said during the hearing. “We need to know these billions won’t just become windfalls for major telecom companies at the expense of the rural communities they’re meant to serve.”
Despite some partisan division, Hollinger’s nomination passed through the committee by a narrow 13-11 vote, setting the stage for a likely confirmation battle on the Senate floor.
The NTIA will play a critical role in working with state governments to allocate broadband funding and oversee the performance of grant recipients. The agency is also responsible for ensuring compliance with federal affordability and access benchmarks, which advocates say are essential to bridging the digital divide.
According to the FCC, nearly 24 million Americans, mostly in rural and tribal regions, still lack access to reliable high-speed internet.
The timeline for a full Senate vote on Hollinger’s nomination has not yet been announced.
References:
- Senate Commerce Committee Hearing Transcript, April 2025
- FCC Broadband Progress Report, 2024
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – Public Law No: 117-58
- Congressional Research Service: “NTIA and the BEAD Program Overview”
