Commerce Agency Has Billions for Broadband, No Confirmed Leader

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, tasked with distributing billions of dollars in funding for broadband, awaits Senate action on a new leader to steer the effort.

Congress allocated $42.5 billion to the Commerce Department agency in its infrastructure package to distribute broadband grants to states. The NTIA has not had a permanent head in more than two years.

The agency only has six months to implement a program for distributing the funds. Democratic senators said filling the position is crucial to getting funding out the door.

“We have a historic opportunity with this bill to start closing the digital ...