Here's What Arielle Roth Said About Starlink and BEAD in Her Confirmation Hearing

During Arielle Roth’s confirmation hearing on Thursday, she was asked questions about BEAD, spectrum allocations, AI, cybersecurity, and other familiar talking points.

BEAD appeared to take the spotlight, however, and Roth leaned heavily on a set of answers for these questions that allowed her to avoid directly answering certain questions about BEAD, while also showing a commitment to general bipartisan goals of connecting every American in the most efficient way.

BEAD questions were often answered with some version of promising to defer to experts under her leadership, saying she will “abide by the law,” and emphasizing the expediting of deployment.

Roth conveyed a desire for cooperation within government. “I look forward to working with members of congress on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the bead program is a success and lives up to its bipartisan legacy,” said Roth at one point.

Elon Musk, fiber, and Starlink

Unsurpringly, Democratic Senators repeatedly brought up Starlink in light of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s desire to overhaul the BEAD program to allow for more allocation towards satellite broadband.

“My mission will be to deliver broadband to the American people … not to serve any individual or company,” Roth said early on.

When pressed to answer questions about fiber vs. satellite, Roth was deflective and noncommittal and often expressed that she will defer to others on some of the more specific points.

Seantor Gary Peters (D-MI) asked three times that Roth directly answer whether or not states should be allowed to choose what technology they use.

Roth ultimately said, “If confirmed, I would certainly want to work with all of the state broadband offices to better und their needs and to ensure that the program is serving the interests of each state and not subjecting them to excessive red tape.”

BEAD delays

Another major topic of interest from Senate Democrats was whether “rigorous reviews” would further delay BEAD deployments.

“I would hope that any review of the BEAD program would be done quickly, with an eye to expediting deployment,” said Roth. “If there are ways that we can expedite the ‘shovels in the ground’ side of the program, I would want to find such ways.”

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) pressed Roth directly to answer whether states should hold off. Here’s how that exchange went:

Markey: “Given the Commerce Department’s review, should states just stop accepting applications and indefinitely pause their program and just save the money?”

Roth: “Senator, As I haven’t been confirmed yet, I haven’t had a chance to confer with NTIA’s career staff, and I haven’t been involved in review process. I would hope that any review conducted by the NTIA is expeditious with the goal of expediting [buildouts.]”

Markey: “Will you commit to a quick timeline for when the review will be complete?”

Roth: “As I haven’t been confirmed, I’m not in a position to commit to a specific timeline, but I will commit that my goal would be a very expeditious timeline.”

Near the end of the hearing, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also pressed Roth to answer concerns about whether state allocations would remain intact. On this, Roth was noncommittal.

Here’s the exchange.

Cantwell: "Will you commit to preserving these allocations that NTIA made to each state in 2023, including, I think, about a billion dollars to my home state of Washington?"

Roth: "Senator, I will abide by the law."

Cantwell: "Is your interpretation of that law that yes, you will go ahead and make those allocations?"

Roth: "I can’t commit to any specific outcome, as I haven’t been confirmed, but I will cert—"[INTERRUPTION]

Cantwell: "You’re saying you don’t know what the administration’s going to do, is that what you’re saying?"

Roth: "I haven’t been confirmed yet, I haven’t had an opportunity to look into this issue yet, but I will absolutely com—" [INTERRUPTION]

Cantwell: "Well you know the policy though. You do know the policy, right? You know that was our intent. And the money’s now been allocated, so it’s a question of whether you think that those commitments made in 2023 should be upheld."

Roth: "…if confirmed, I look forward to reviewing those allocations and ensuring that the program is compliant with the law I will always abide by the law, Senator, and I look forward to working with you on the BEAD program."

'Abiding by the law' was used frequently when asked difficult and specific questions. Certainly no one doubts that. For now it remains to be seen how she will lead the NTIA under this new administration, under Lutnick's Commerce Department, and with Congress acting to write new laws that could have significant impacts.