NTIA Unveils Broadband Deployment Dashboard and Buy America Guidance

NTIA released the first of six data dashboard tools Monday that will help publicly "monitor the progress of construction and implementation related to projects" the agency's broadband programs fund. The just-released tool will provide "increased transparency" of reporting requirements. The agency also released additional guidance about compliance with its build America, buy America waiver.

NTIA's first dashboard, which tracks progress within the middle-mile broadband infrastructure program, is "the force multiplier for the broadband, equity, access, and deployment (BEAD) program," Sarah Bleau, NTIA's middle-mile program director, wrote.

"For each grantee, the dashboard shows the award amount, the project location, and percentages of procurement, permitting, and construction completed," Bleau noted. Dashboards for the agency's other programs will arrive "in due time," she said, adding the dashboards will be updated every six months.

"Our efforts to increase connectivity, affordability, and equity are in full swing across all programs," Bleau added: "With these dashboards, anyone can monitor our progress on a project-by-project basis as we work to achieve internet for all."

The buy America requirement "will result in the majority of fiber broadband equipment" like optical fiber, fiber optic cable, key electronics and enclosures, "being made here in the United States," Will Arbuckle, NTIA senior policy adviser, wrote Tuesday.

The agency released a targeted waiver of the buy America provision in February, calling it "tough and programmatic" (see 2402230064). Tuesday's guidance offered a framework for stakeholders to self-certify and report compliance for the BEAD program.

Manufacturers may choose to self-certify that certain equipment they produce meets the waiver's domestic manufacturing requirements. The Commerce Department will publish a self-certification page in the coming weeks listing manufacturers that completed their certification process. Manufacturers will also be required to provide a buy America certification letter to subgrantees ​​for "equipment that requires domestic production."

In addition, subgrantees must maintain their certification letter in the event of an audit, NTIA said. The agency intends to use the information to "better understand the electronics used in domestic broadband deployments, including the specific types of equipment, their ubiquity, and their country of origin."

"The BEAD program is not just a connectivity program, it’s a jobs program," Arbuckle said. "Today’s release of self-certification and compliance information is part of a larger effort to drive investment in domestic manufacturing, secure our domestic broadband supply chain, and ensure that potential BEAD program participants are ready to comply with [buy America] reporting requirements."