CWA Broadband Brigade Member Speaks Up for Reliable Internet Service at Statewide Rally

On Monday, CWA Maryland State Broadband Lead Marcus Chambers, a member of CWA Local 2018, informed an enthusiastic crowd of union members and supporters about threats to funding for reliable high-speed internet access in Maryland and across the country. The group gathered on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis, Md., for the annual MD/DC AFL-CIO State Council Union Night Rally.

CWA’s Broadband Brigade members have worked hard to make sure federal broadband infrastructure funds will create good, union jobs building reliable fiber connections. But now that is under threat from the Trump Administration and Congress.

Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick is bowing to pressure from satellite company CEOs to lower standards for the broadband infrastructure program, known as BEAD. He has proposed requirements that would funnel more of the money intended for fiber buildout to unreliable, non-union satellite internet service like Elon Musk’s Starlink. In addition, members of Congress have introduced legislation that would remove labor protections and wage requirements for buildout projects, directing more of the work to low-road contractors.

“We worked for almost three years to have labor standards incorporated into the BEAD program,” Chambers said. “They now want to strip that all away and more so Elon can have his satellite company Starlink come in with contractors and subcontractors to do subpar work on a technology that at best lasts five years before it ‘de-orbits,’ which we all know as ‘falls out of the sky.’ And let’s not forget the congestion issues that lower your speed. Let’s remember that weather conditions will lower your speed. With fiber, you don’t have to worry about any of that.”

States have already developed detailed buildout plans, and these proposed changes could cause unnecessary delays, put workers in danger, and leave rural residents and businesses with sub-standard service. Sign our petition to oppose changes to the BEAD program and stand up for reliable internet service and good jobs.

 
CWA Local 2100 member Chris Fallswick and CWA Local 2336 President Melissa Smith-Kupihea hold signs encouraging supporters to speak out in support of good jobs and reliable internet service as CWA Maryland State Broadband Lead Marcus Chambers, a member of CWA Local 2018, addresses an enthusiastic crowd during the annual MD/DC AFL-CIO State Council Union Night Rally.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.