the lion's share goes through one agency, the ntia. but if is an agency with a very poor record of efficiently dispersing broadband funding. the last time congress provided ntia with a big infusion of broadband funding, a fraction of what it is now responsible for, the agency struggled with implementation and ended up overbuilding existing broadband networks, resulting in billions of taxpayer dollars spent with little to show. i've seen very little to convince me that ntia is likely to do much better this time around. in july last year, ntia called for volunteers, volunteers to help determine how to allocate $1.5 billion that congress provided to ntia to improve broadband access. volunteers, mr. president. yet congress now put the agency in charge of distributing the $42.5 billion in the broadband equity access and deployment program. i am deeply concerned that without serious oversight, ntia will make, and is already making, similar mistakes when managing current broadband programs. which is why earlier this month, i began an oversigh

ntia has fumbled attempts to bring broadband to rural communities. they didn't go very well. the agency struggled with implementation and there were issues on the number of projects the agency approved. other projects resulted in the construction of additional broadband infrastructure in areas that already had access to reliable broadband. last year, ntia called for volunteers to help determine how to allocate the $1.5 billion congress provided them for certain band programs. that is acceptable. without stringent oversight, ntia will make and has already made the same mistakes when managing the $42.5 billion broadband equity access and employment program. that is why last week, i began an oversight effort to review the broadband programs. oversight on how these dollars are being spent is necessary to avoid agencies missy -- going to areas that are truly unserved. if there are changes that need to be made, we need to get to work that they are aspect of effective as possible -- they are as effective as possible. carlos please to partner with other senators in introducing the ru

the ntia is calling for the uk government to extend the energy relief scheme, and consider further support joining me now is michael kill, ceo, night time industries association. welcome to you. i am not sure if you have been up all night what you've just got up early for the tell us how the night—time industries have been affected stopping because you would think now the first clear christmas since covid it would be booming. christmas since covid it would be booming-— be booming. as you quite rithtl be booming. as you quite rightly said. _ be booming. as you quite rightly said, this - be booming. as you quite rightly said, this is - be booming. as you quite rightly said, this is the i be booming. as you quite l rightly said, this is the third year and the year that we felt we had some freedom to trade, but that has not been the case. we've seen the escalation of cost inflation throughout the year with energy prices and overarching costs going up about 30— sent across the board. and we are also seeing cost inflation eat into our consumer confidence with the drop in trade up to about 15% in