Even with the waiver, though, the administration estimates that roughly 90% of funding for equipment will still be used to purchase U.S.- made products.
The federal government says it’s OK for some components used in building out the nation’s broadband network to come from other countries.
The waiver announced last week by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, addresses a key concern among states over requirements in the federal Build America, Buy America Act that infrastructure projects have to be built with products made in the U.S.
“I think we all generally support the goals of Build America, Buy America,” said Christine Hallquist, executive director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board, referring to the desire to increase the number of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. But “the real issue,” she said, is that not enough components used in the construction of broadband are currently made in America.
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Route Fifty
By Kery Murakami
FEBRUARY 27, 2024