'A Detrimental Effect'
The New Jersey Cable and Internet Association filed a public comment, saying the proposed independent-contractor rule threatens broadband access.
In 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, and President Biden signed it into law. Within that act was $42.45 billion in federal funding to expand high-speed internet service nationwide, through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.
BEAD is a program that’s cited in one of the public comments filed in opposition to the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development’s proposed independent-contractor rule.
According to the New Jersey Cable and Internet Association, the proposed rule will create problems for expanding broadband access through BEAD, especially for unserved and underserved communities statewide.
The comment states:
“It is the opinion of NJCIA that the proposed rules will have a detrimental effect on independent contractors and businesses and negatively impact our sector during a critical period as we prepare to execute Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) projects throughout New Jersey.
“As proposed, these rules would have far-reaching, impacts on our ability to work with independent contractors to support our efforts to ensure broadband access for unserved and underserved communities across the state.”
Here is the one-page NJCIA public comment in its entirety:
Why Broadband Access Matters
The U.S. Department of Commerce put together this nifty guide about why broadband access matters. It’s about people being able to access education, health services and more.
More to come from the estimated 8,300 public comments that were filed, expressing 99% opposition to New Jersey’s proposed independent-contractor rule.
How can these NJ politicians be so clueless about the needs of the 21st century workforce. We need flexibility. The 70million plus workers - a majority of the workforce- do not want to be tied down to an employer. Business booms when a company can be nimble enough to get new clients by using independent contractors. Perhaps NJ lawmakers should stop taking so many donations from unions and put themselves in the shoes of NJ independent contractors. At a minimum look at the pain and millions of dollars wasted litigating CA AB5. We need a law to preserve the right to freelance. How about a law making it easier for independent contractors to buy those "employment" benefits they deem best for themselves.