By Andrew Gins
On February 3, 2025, President Trump nominated Arielle Roth to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Roth is extremely well-qualified for the role given her experience in the field of Broadband policy and work for the FCC. Other supporters of her nomination include the Rural Broadband Association, USTelecom, and the Wi-Fi alliance, all of whom recognize her capacity to lead the agency and drive innovation in the telecommunications space.
Roth’s career includes holding top positions in Congress and at the FCC. She serves currently as Senator Ted Cruz’s Policy Director for Communications. Prior to working in Senator Cruz’s office, she held the role of wireline advisor to then-Commissioner Michael O’Reilly and legal counsel for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The NTIA is the sole agency responsible for Federal spectrum use and acts as the president’s principal advisor on telecommunications policy. One of NTIA’s largest responsibilities is the administration of the $42 Billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a key initiative aimed at expanding high-speed broadband access across the United States, targeting underserved and unserved communities. As Digital Liberty has documented, NTIA has saddled the program with bureaucratic red tape that has slowed down deployment and imposed rules that will be counter-productive to connecting unserved Americans. Roth will have her work cut out for her bringing this massive program in line with the goal of connecting the unserved.
Roth has taken a technology neutral stance on broadband expansion, advocated for continued American leadership in 5G and 6G telecommunications, and promoting innovation and sustained growth in the broadband marketplace by addressing Spectrum demand. She will bring needed reforms to the program and get the infrastructure spending back to a cost-effective model as originally envisioned by Congress.
Throughout her career, Roth has demonstrated a strong understanding of broadband technology policy. Given the NTIA’s pivotal role in shaping the future of America’s communications infrastructure, Roth’s appointment as Administrator would be a significant step toward ensuring the NTIA and BEAD use their resources efficiently and foster competition in the broadband space.
Digital Liberty strongly supports Arielle Roth’s nomination to lead the NTIA and urges the Senate to conduct a swift confirmation. Her qualifications and vision make her an excellent nominee to guide the agency as it works to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
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