On August 4, NRECA
filed comments with NTIA in response to the BEAD Uniform Guidance Request for
Comment (“RFC”) issued by NTIA on July 6, 2023. The comments urged NTIA
to provide flexibility and clarity to the rules for the Broadband Equity, Access
and Deployment (BEAD) grant program similar to that provided by U.S. Treasury
for the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) and State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
(SLFRF). Not only will adopting rules in line with Treasury provide
needed flexibility and clarity, it will instill consistency across agencies and
broadband programs, which will reduce the burden on small providers, such as
electric cooperatives, to participate in the program.