Deb Fischer

Senator Fischer suggests "cyber security" as a key area for the unspent BEAD funds, noting the threats businesses and communities face. Lutnick is receptive to "best ideas" for the surplus. Shifting infrastructure funds from physical cables to digital security represents a massive new government TAM for cybersecurity firms. If states are allowed to spend broadband surplus on "securing" the network, it flows to top-tier vendors. LONG Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike as recipients of state-level federal grants for municipal and critical infrastructure security. Bureaucratic delays in approving "non-deployment" use cases.

Senator Fischer urges Lutnick to allow "precision agriculture connectivity" to be an eligible use for the $20B+ in unspent BEAD funds. Lutnick agrees to "spend time together learning it." With deployment costs coming in $21B under budget, the surplus capital must go somewhere. "Precision Ag" is a bipartisan, high-utility way to spend that money, directly subsidizing the connectivity hardware and software ecosystems dominated by Deere. LONG Deere & Company as the primary beneficiary of subsidized rural connectivity for farming equipment. Treasury claws back the unspent funds instead of reallocating them.

Senator Fischer suggests "cyber security" as a key area for the unspent BEAD funds, noting the threats businesses and communities face. Lutnick is receptive to "best ideas" for the surplus. Shifting infrastructure funds from physical cables to digital security represents a massive new government TAM for cybersecurity firms. If states are allowed to spend broadband surplus on "securing" the network, it flows to top-tier vendors. LONG Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike as recipients of state-level federal grants for municipal and critical infrastructure security. Bureaucratic delays in approving "non-deployment" use cases.