Build America Buy America
What is Build America, Buy America?
The Build America Buy America Act (BABA), part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, says that when the government provides money for building infrastructure, the materials used to build them should be made in the United States. This means things like iron, steel, products made in factories, and materials for construction need to come from the U.S.
NTIA’s BABA waiver for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD), Middle Mile, and Tribal Broadband Connectivity Programs (TBCP) require that certain equipment be produced in the U.S., while waiving the domestic manufacturing requirement for other equipment. These BABA requirements will affect a range of stakeholders who will be responsible for demonstrating compliance. There are multiple existing waivers associated with NTIA’s grant programs. For the full list of all DOC BABA waivers, visit the Office of Acquisition Management Build America Buy America page.
How to comply and report on BABA requirements for the BEAD Program
NTIA’s approach to BABA compliance and reporting is broken down into three components:
- Self-Certification List: The Department of Commerce (DOC) hosts a BEAD BABA ‘Self-Certification’ list, which manufacturers can, at the risk of penalty, certify that certain equipment they produce meets the domestic manufacturing requirements described in the BEAD BABA waiver. The Self-Certification list is housed on the Office of Acquisition Management Build America Buy America page.
- Compliance: Manufacturers are required to provide a BABA certification letter to a subgrantee for equipment that requires domestic production as described in the BEAD BABA waiver.
- Reporting: Subgrantees are required to report certain information for waived electronics used in BEAD deployments.
More information and resources about self-certification, compliance, and reporting can be found on BroadbandUSA's BABA Compliance and Self Certification page.
For more information about the “Build America, Buy America” initiative, visit Made in America website.
Why Build America, Buy America?
At the core of the “Build America, Buy America” initiative lies a commitment to strengthening our nation from within. By prioritizing domestic production and procurement of infrastructure products and components, we’re:
- Fueling Job Creation: Strengthening industries at home translates into more job opportunities for our communities. As we invest in high-speed Internet infrastructure, we're also investing in American livelihoods.
- Boosting Economic Resilience: By reducing dependence on foreign supply chains, we enhance our nation's resilience in times of global disruption, ensuring that vital broadband networks remain robust and reliable.
- Empowering Local Businesses: The "Build America, Buy America" initiative empowers local businesses to contribute to our nation's digital growth.