Arielle Roth to discuss the future of the largest U.S. broadband program

On March 18, 2026, at the BEAD Implementation Summit hosted by Broadband Breakfast, a media platform, one of the most anticipated events on the agenda will take place. NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth will sit down for a fireside chat with Broadband Breakfast CEO and Publisher Drew Clark. The conversation will focus on the current state of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which remains a key mechanism for federal funding of broadband infrastructure in the United States.

The conference will run from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Attendance is available in person or via livestream; however, in both cases, advance registration is required.

What will be on the agenda at the summit

The fireside chat format involves an informal, candid conversation rather than a series of presentations. Clark and Roth intend to break down the major components of the BEAD program, which is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Among the announced topics are:

• the implementation status and NTIA’s current priorities within the program;
• practical issues shaping the agenda for the coming months;
• next steps in rolling out federal funding for broadband infrastructure.

The BEAD program was created to close the digital divide and bring high-speed internet to regions that still remain coverage gaps on the connectivity map. The scale of the task makes every public discussion of implementation progress truly significant for the industry.

Key drivers of growing demand for quality internet—from education to iGaming

Fast, stable internet in today’s environment is not a luxury but a basic necessity for several reasons at once. The first is expanded opportunities in education. Thanks to distance learning, it is possible to access high-quality educational programs without having to move several states away to attend college. The second is work. More and more American companies are increasing profitability by shifting to remote work. This gives residents of the regions a chance to get a job at a large firm with commensurate pay.

The third is entertainment, from streaming services to online gaming and iGaming. Moreover, online casino players often turn out to be the most demanding when it comes to connection quality and stability. That expectation is the same whether they’re in the U.S., Canada, or Australia. We found an explanation on this site with a ranking of the best online casinos. The rules of several gaming platforms that we reviewed selectively state that the online casino operator is not responsible for the player’s connection quality. This means that a bet may be lost if the connection drops, and no one will reimburse the financial losses. It’s no surprise that the stability of the internet connection is such an important factor.

Quality internet is also necessary to stay in touch with family, get medical consultations from specialists, and buy essentials on Amazon. Without it, it’s hard to imagine a high quality of life today, which makes the BEAD program even more relevant.

Who is Arielle Roth, and why her words carry weight

Arielle Roth was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information on July 30, 2025. In this role, she leads the NTIA, an executive-branch agency that advises the U.S. President on communications, broadband access, and internet policy. The BEAD program is administered through the NTIA, which places Roth at the center of the entire federal funding framework for the sector.

Before her appointment, Roth spent nearly ten years helping shape communications policy at the federal level. Her career has spanned Capitol Hill and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Her most recent role before joining the NTIA was particularly influential: Roth held the position of Policy Director for Telecommunications on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation under Chairman Ted Cruz. Earlier, she worked as Legislative Counsel to Senator Roy Blunt. This background combines legislative and regulatory experience, which is especially valuable amid the large-scale rollout of BEAD.

Drew Clark and his broadband media ecosystem

The conversation will be moderated by Drew Clark, who has led the Broadband Breakfast community since 2008. As CEO and Publisher, he built the platform around a simple but ambitious idea: better broadband means a better life. Broadband Breakfast positions itself as a leading media community advancing the high-speed connectivity agenda through in-depth analysis and timely industry coverage.

Clark is also behind a number of practical initiatives. He created Broadband Census, a crowdsourced tool for collecting and verifying data on broadband availability that the FCC did not publish at the time. In addition, Clark led Partnership for a Connected Illinois, the State of Illinois program to expand broadband. The combination of media and project experience makes him a counterpart capable of asking not only the easy questions, but the tough ones.

The fireside chat will take place as part of the BEAD Implementation Summit and will be available both in person and online via livestream with event registration.