WIA Warns States to Be Wary of EHCT Models

States might want to avoid using fiber fans’ models to set extremely high cost thresholds (EHCT) for NTIA’s broadband, equity, access and deployment program, the Wireless Infrastructure Association said Wednesday. The BEAD notice of funding opportunity directed states to deploy fiber except in the highest cost areas. States must set up an EHCT to determine where alternative technologies like wireless may be used. The Fiber Broadband Association and Cartesian released a modeling tool last week to help states calculate EHCTs (see 2308210041). “Though perhaps economically sound in theory, using these models at this early stage risks feeding into the mistaken approach that a state should be setting an exact EHCT at this stage of the process -- or at all,” WIA Chief Strategy Officer Mike Saperstein blogged. “Producing cost models that would pre-determine an EHCT may unnecessarily limit participation and add in substantial programmatic risk, before the application period even opens.” Saperstein praised Louisiana specifically for not establishing an ECHT upfront.