WASHINGTON (WV News) — The U.S. Department of Commerce is slowing down the process of disbursing federal funds for broadband internet access improvements, according to US Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

Last week, Capito, a member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, joined Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration expressing concerns with the $42.45 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity.

The senators urged NTIA to revise or issue a new NOFO for the BEAD program in order to reach, and more efficiently connect, truly unserved Americans.

During her weekly press briefing Thursday, Capito said the department is “putting unnecessary chains” on the deployment of broadband dollars included in the Infrastructure and Improvement Act.

“By chains, I mean obstructions or requirements,” she said. “Our state is really well poised for this because we have such a great broadband council. They’ve been active in mapping; they’ve been active in getting money out previously.”

The IIJA provides $45.45 billion for the BEAD program, which grants funds to states to invest in broadband infrastructure. Under this program, every state will receive a minimum of $100 million, with the remainder of the funds being allocated based on a formula that accounts for high-cost unserved and underserved locations.

“We want to see this money flow as easily, but also as effectively, as possible,” Capito said.

The letter, signed by Capito and 10 other Senate Republicans, urges the NTIA to revise or issue a new NOFO for the BEAD program to address several issues.

These include: Labor requirements; tech-neutrality; mandates for affordability and rate regulation; climate change mandates; and supply chain issues.

Capito has worked to expand West Virginians’ access to affordable broadband internet since May of 2015 with the launch of her Capito Connect program, one of her first initiatives as a member of Congress.

Following the signing into law of the infrastructure package in 2022, Capito launched a “Share Your Stories” initiative to empower West Virginians to detail their experiences with internet access in their communities.

In addition to Capito, the letter to NTIA was signed by Republican senators Ted Cruz of Texas, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Dan Sullivan of Alabama, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Todd Young of Indiana, and Roger Wicker of Mississippi.