The widely spread rumors on this one are true, as U.S. Senate Commerce Committee staffer Arielle Roth has been nominated by President Trump to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. In her current position she works directly with Committee Chairman Ted Cruz who has been very critical of the BEAD program on a variety of fronts. Roth has been critical of the program’s perceived bias towards fiber, so industry watchers are keen to see where she lands on that issue if/when confirmed by the Senate. Also in her crosshairs are the low-income requirement, union leanings and nods to climate change.