S. 866 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 5, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySpeeds up federal broadband infrastructure permits
This bill aims to make it faster for companies to get permission to build broadband and communications infrastructure on federal property. It requires federal agencies to track how long they're taking to review permit applications, spot what's causing delays, and alert staff when they might miss the 270-day deadline. It also lowers the cost threshold for certain broadband projects to get expedited environmental review, making the approval process quicker for smaller projects.
How it affects you
If you live in an area where broadband companies are trying to expand internet access on federal land, this bill could speed up the process of getting those networks built. The faster permitting could mean quicker internet infrastructure improvements in rural or underserved communities, though the bill doesn't guarantee any specific outcomes for individual areas.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 5, 2025)
Accelerating Broadband Permits Act
This bill makes specified changes to processes for federal review of certain communications and broadband infrastructure projects.
Specifically, the bill requires executive branch agencies to identify and address factors that contribute to delays in their review of applications for easements, rights-of-way, or leases related to communications infrastructure projects. (Under current law, executive branch agencies with control over buildings or property may grant such easements, rights-of-way, or leases to entities seeking to install, construct, modify, or maintain communications facilities. Generally, agencies must act on such applications within 270 days.)
Under the bill, agencies must develop controls to ensure accurate tracking of processing times for such applications and take action to address factors contributing to delays as they occur. Agencies must also establish methods to alert employees when the agency is at risk of failing to meet the 270-day deadline with respect to a particular application. (These provisions were recommended by the Government Accountability Office in an April 2024 report to Congress entitled Broadband Deployment: Agencies Should Take Steps to Better Meet Deadline for Processing Permits .)
Separately, the bill lowers the cost threshold for certain broadband infrastructure projects to qualify as covered projects under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act from $200 million to $5 million. Such projects qualify for expedited federal environmental review.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 866
A BILL
Accelerating Broadband Permits Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD) · Introduced Mar 5, 2025 · Science, Technology, Communications · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 5, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text: CR S1581)”