- The White House has tapped Arielle Roth, advisor to Senator Ted Cruz, to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
- Roth, who has a background in both the Senate and FCC, has criticized NTIA for having ‘extreme tech bias in favor of fiber’
- Industry experts are optimistic that Roth has what it takes for the job
There’s a new sheriff in town for the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. Arielle Roth, policy director of telecommunications on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, was nominated by President Donald Trump to head the NTIA.
But let’s be real, most of the telecom industry saw the move coming from a mile away.
Roth, who works for committee chair Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), was widely rumored to be Trump’s pick for new NTIA administrator. If confirmed by Congress, she will succeed Alan Davidson, who stepped down on January 20.
What can we expect from Roth in terms of BEAD? Like Cruz, she’s no fan of the program’s fiber broadband preference and prefers a more technology-neutral approach. Speaking at a Federalist Society event in June, Roth argued NTIA has “imposed extreme tech bias in favor of fiber.”
“That’s just going to make the program more expensive,” she said at the time, echoing the opinion of both Cruz and Federal Communications Commission (FCC)chair Brendan Carr.
Prior to joining the Senate, Roth spent nearly three years at the FCC as a wireline advisor to former Commissioner Michael O’Reilly. She also served as a legal fellow at the Hudson Institute, according to LinkedIn.
Given her FCC experience, Roth was first tipped as a possible pick to be the 5th FCC Commissioner. However, that position will go to Senate staffer Olivia Trusty once she’s confirmed.
Roth takes the NTIA reins just after a frenzy arose on the future of BEAD funding. The White House last week issued then rescinded an order to freeze the disbursement of federal grants. It was unclear how big of an impact the freeze could have had on state broadband deployments, as there are states that already have access to their BEAD allotments.
New Street Research in January predicted a new NTIA chief will “follow orders, rather than chart a new course based on their personal background and policy preferences.” Carr, and especially Starlink’s Elon Musk, are poised to have an influence in reshaping BEAD policy.
Optimism abounds from the telecom industry
We’ll just have to wait and see the moves Roth will make with BEAD. As expected, industry groups meanwhile no time in congratulating her for the nomination.
David Zumwalt, president and CEO of WISPA, said Roth’s work with Cruz on BEAD “is especially encouraging, illuminating a path to correct that off-track program.” WISPA has pushed for NTIA to give room for more fixed wireless access (FWA) providers to participate in BEAD.
Roth has also “played a leading role in addressing spectrum demand,” Zumwalt added, “which is essential to the growth and innovation of the broadband marketplace.”
Others who showed support for Roth include NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, USTelecom, the Wireless Infrastructure Association and even Comcast. The operator said she “has exhibited an impressive knowledge of a wide range of telecommunications issues.”
Joel Thayer, president of the Digital Progress Institute, told Fierce while he can’t speak on what Roth’s priorities will be, he said “she understands the limits of the federal government’s role, especially in the context of administering federal funds to assist state broadband deployment schemes.”
“She is a staunch advocate for assuring the U.S.’s continued leadership in 5G and 6G and I don’t see her deviating from that view,” he added.