The head of the Biden administration's ambitious rural broadband program has departed, sparking concerns over the program's future direction. Evan Feinman, director of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, announced his exit in a department-wide email, warning of "deeply negative outcomes" if the program shifts towards satellite-based internet solutions.

Feinman's departure comes amidst a "rigorous review" of the program announced by Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick earlier this month. Lutnick blamed the program's slow progress on "woke mandates, favoritism towards certain technologies, and burdensome regulations." The BEAD program aims to bring high-bandwidth internet to underserved rural areas, with a focus on fiber-based infrastructure.

The program's initial rules prioritized fiber-based internet, but allowed for other technologies where fiber wasn't viable. However, some Republicans have been critical of the program, claiming that it unfairly excluded Elon Musk's Starlink satellite-based internet service. The FCC had previously denied Starlink $886 million in Universal Service Fund subsidies for a separate rural broadband program, citing the company's inability to demonstrate it could deliver the promised service.

Feinman's email warned that a shift towards satellite-based internet could "strand all or part of rural America with worse internet so that we can make the world's richest man even richer." His concerns are echoed by critics who fear that the program's overhaul could benefit Starlink, which could receive up to $20 billion in funding under the revised rules.

The BEAD program has faced a long and complex process, with states submitting proposals and the FCC creating a map of US broadband access. Only three states – Delaware, Louisiana, and Nevada – had reached the final stage of issuing a proposal for public comment before the government's progress-tracking site stopped being updated regularly.

Feinman's departure and the ongoing controversy surrounding the BEAD program raise significant questions about the future of rural broadband development in the United States. As the program's direction remains uncertain, it is unclear what implications this will have for the millions of Americans still lacking access to reliable, high-speed internet.

The story highlights the ongoing challenges in bridging the digital divide in rural America, where access to reliable internet remains a critical issue. As the BEAD program's future hangs in the balance, it remains to be seen whether the Biden administration can deliver on its promise to bring high-bandwidth internet to underserved areas, or if the program will be reshaped to favor satellite-based solutions.