Rep. Goodlander Advocates for Rural Broadband Grants to Support Small Businesses

Broadband Access in Rural Areas

• 💡 Reliable and affordable internet access is a critical issue raised by constituents across New Hampshire, including family farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
• 🎯 The bipartisan infrastructure bill has allocated $191 million to New Hampshire for broadband expansion, with a bipartisan five-year plan in place.

The BEAD Program and Its Challenges

• 🔑 The BEAD program is described as the lifeline for New Hampshire to achieve universal broadband access.
• ⚠️ Recent changes to the BEAD program, specifically the removal of the fiber preference, have created significant challenges for providers.
• 📉 Providers like Miss Jackson Ferman and Miss Westbrook highlight that the removal of fiber preference impacted their ability to secure funding and serve certain areas, as alternative technologies like fixed wireless and satellite lack the scalability and reliability of fiber.
• ⚙️ Navigating the BEAD application process has been complicated and time-consuming for providers, even after preliminary awards.

Improving Federal Programs for Small Businesses

• 🤝 Rep. Goodlander is co-sponsoring the Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act to improve the Small Business Administration's effectiveness in connecting rural small businesses with federal programs.
• 📈 Witnesses suggest that contribution reform is needed to ensure the sustainability of programs like the Universal Service Fund (USF).
• 🗣️ There is a call to cut red tape and waste within federal programs to make them more accessible and efficient for grantees.