Maria Cantwell - Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Maria Cantwell - Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, Marsha Blackburn, and Cynthia Lummis have accused the Biden-Harris administration of disseminating misleading information regarding broadband connectivity in the United States. The Senators addressed their concerns in a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), claiming that these agencies are manipulating census data to underreport the number of American households with internet access.
The letter from the Senators points out that millions of households relying on wireless and satellite technologies, especially in rural and remote areas, are being excluded from internet connectivity data. They argue that this exclusion reflects an administrative bias favoring fiber connectivity over alternative high-speed options like satellite and wireless broadband.
The Senators contend that such manipulation undermines efforts to expand broadband access through programs like the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) initiative. They criticize what they describe as political motivations behind these actions, including a decision to revoke $885 million in funding from Elon Musk’s Starlink.
“In yet another misstep from Vice President Kamala Harris in her role as Broadband Czar, it has come to our attention that this administration is manipulating census data to suppress the number of American households connected to high-speed internet via wireless and satellite technologies," stated the Senators in their letter.
They further expressed concern over public safety implications, noting how satellite internet proved crucial during recent disasters such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “This policy is divorced from a reality where satellite internet provided critical, life-saving capability during recent disasters,” they noted.
The letter also criticized NTIA's Project LEIA for excluding wireless and satellite users from its estimates of broadband adoption across U.S. counties. According to the Senators, this omission leads to systemic undercounting and biased data.
“Moving forward with misleading data will only compound these failures,” urged the Senators, calling for accurate representation or abandonment of flawed experimental initiatives if reliable data cannot be ensured.
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