Senators John Thune (R-SD), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), ranking member and chairman, respectively, of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, and John Barrasso (R-WY), introduced the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act this week. The measure aims to speed the review permit application process with federal agencies.
The legislation cuts unnecessary red tape and increases transparency into the federal permitting process. It also requires federal agencies to implement controls to ensure broadband applications are being processed within the required 270-day deadline, according to the sponsors.
Thune called it “critical” that federal agencies are processing broadband permits in a timely fashion and that they are being held accountable for any delays. The measure incorporates recommendations from the Government Accountability Office to improve communications and restore accountability in the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.
“Many broadband providers have faced issues with the federal permitting process for applications on federal land,” said Barrasso. “This results in higher costs for internet providers and delays in closing the digital divide across rural America. Our legislation will improve the application process and allow more projects to move forward and provide our rural communities with reliable internet services.”
USTelecom President/CEO Jonathan Spalter said the association appreciates the senators “for their leadership to get rid of the obstacles on federal lands that significantly delay permitting approvals. These steps will help speed broadband deployment to American communities.”
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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