VIDEO: Chairman Moran Questions Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Broadband Deployment

WASHINGTON
– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) – led a hearing with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on the Department of Commerce’s broadband deployment efforts, including the implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Sen. Moran emphasized the importance of prioritizing the long-term success of federal broadband deployment, particularly in rural communities. He also questioned Secretary Lutnick on plans for the BEAD program’s leftover allocations, emphasizing that the money should be used for broadband deployment.
“The BEAD program is the largest ever single federal investment in broadband deployment and was intended to connect Americans lacking reliable broadband connectivity,”
said Sen. Moran.
“There should be sufficient resources for this goal to be accomplished. But four years later, not a single BEAD-funded project has been completed, much less initiated, and not a single unserved or underserved American has connected to broadband service through the BEAD Program.”
“I’ve always tried to be neutral in my choice of what is the method by which broadband should be delivered,”
continued Sen. Moran.
“But I want to make sure that what Kansans are receiving is not a short-term benefit but, in the long-term, takes care of Kansans and particularly their rural needs.”
In December 2025,
Sen. Moran and his colleagues called on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
to preserve the ability of states to use broadband infrastructure funds as intended by Congress. During today’s hearing, Secretary Lutnick committed to using the BEAD funding in accordance with the law.
“Now we’re listening to, what are the best ideas to spend that money,”
said Secretary Lutnick.
“We’re going to spend that money, that money you have appropriated, and we’re going to use the best ideas. What are those best ideas? We’re going to listen.”
“The money will be spent according to the statute, of course,”
concluded Secretary Lutnick.
“We are going to hew exactly to the statute.”
Sen. Moran’s opening statement can be viewed
here
. His second round of questioning can be found
here
.
Click
HERE
to Watch Sen. Moran’s Questioning
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