The article discusses the 'abundance agenda,' a perspective in Democratic politics that critiques the bureaucratic red tape surrounding government programs, exemplified by the slow rollout of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Despite $42.5 billion allocated for rural broadband under the 2021 infrastructure law, complex procedural steps have delayed meaningful progress, leaving millions without internet access. It warns that merely simplifying processes won't address the deeper issues plaguing broadband equity, highlighting the need for a more effective approach to ensuring connectivity for all Americans.
The current political debate misunderstands the nature of the broadband issue at almost every level, as procedural simplicity alone cannot rectify the problem.
Three and a half years after the law passed, shovels have still not broken ground on any project funded by the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program.
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