WCAI Urges Congress to Ensure Wireless Broadband Eligibility for Government Grants

As Senate and House conferees are working out the details of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, I sent letters to Congressional leaders today, urging them to assure that commercial entities are eligible for direct grants from NTIA by adopting the House definition of “eligibility” for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. WCAI’s members stand ready to play a leading role in creating jobs and bringing wireless broadband to those areas of the country that are not adequately served. To achieve these goals, commercial wireless broadband providers must be clearly eligible and have direct access to grant funding.

The letters went to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Thad Cochran, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Jerry Lewis, House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, and House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Dave Camp.