Arielle Roth, President Trump’s pick to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), was confirmed following a 52-42 vote in the U.S. Senate.

A former policy advisor at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Roth will take on the role of assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, which includes responsibility for NTIA, and in turn, federal spectrum allocation and regulation.

As NTIA lead, Roth would have the final say on how BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funds will be allocated, with the Trump administration already moving to revamp the $42 billion program, claiming it was moving too slowly.

Following her confirmation, FCC chair Brendan Carr said: “[Roth] and her team will be critical in the work to restore U.S. leadership in wireless, which promotes our economic and national security. I look forward to working with her to deliver great results for the American people.”

In addition to her time at the FCC, Roth also previously served as telecom policy director for Senator Ted Cruz, a well-documented Starlink advocate who previously claimed the Biden Administration was suffering from “Elon derangement syndrome” in its refusal to consider Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites for BEAD.

“Roth is well-qualified to lead NTIA,” Cruz said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) following Roth’s confirmation. “I have directly observed her strong dedication to public service, indefatigable work ethic, and unrivaled passion for telecommunications policy and the law.

“I am confident that under her guidance, NTIA will fix the BEAD program, advance American leadership in spectrum, and drive domestic economic prosperity.”

Roth’s committee stage hearing earlier this year went from what was meant to be a routine grilling into a partisan diatribe on potential ‘giveaways’ to Elon Musk’s Starlink, following the Trump administration’s BEAD pivot from fiber-first to a “technology-neutral basis” (this was, of course, before Trump and Musk’s high-profile fallout).

The Trump administration’s revamp of BEAD completely upended the approval process as well as the technology focus. States and territories have to update their implementation plans and conduct a “Benefit of the Bargain Round,” which reopens previously confirmed selections, making contracts open to providers beyond fiber.

Contract awards also focus on cost and speed to deployment, with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick previously pledging to “put an end to wasteful spending… with connectivity delivered around the country at a fraction of the cost of the original program.”

Industry reacts

Ajit Pai, president and CEO of the wireless association, CTIA, said: “I had the privilege of working alongside Roth at the FCC, where her dedication to public service and thoughtful approach to telecommunications policy were evident to all.

“NTIA will benefit from her experience, steady leadership, and collaborative spirit as it tackles today’s challenges, including maximizing efficient spectrum use, protecting our national security, and advancing our economic competitiveness.”

Rhonda Johnson, AT&T’s EVP for federal regulatory relations, said Roth’s policy expertise “will be highly valuable to the Commerce Department.”

“We look forward to working with her and the NTIA to advance national broadband policy priorities that encourage investment and keep America competitive on the global stage.”

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) also came out to congratulate Roth, with the group’s president, Tom Stroup, saying: “The association and its members look forward to working with the new Administrator and her leadership team at NTIA on a number of issues pertinent to the satellite industry including expediting a technology neutral Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

“Such collaboration will help ensure America’s continued leadership in technological innovation and the global space economy.”