SPEED for Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2025
The SPEED for Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2025 would amend the Communications Act of 1934 to fast-track the placement and installation of certain new communications facilities by shielding them from major federal environmental and historic-preservation reviews. Specifically, it creates a category of "covered projects" that would not count as major federal actions under NEPA and would not be considered undertakings under the National Historic Preservation Act. The goal is to streamline approvals for expanding broadband infrastructure, especially in public rights-of-way (ROW). The bill also sets precise criteria for what qualifies as a covered project (e.g., size limits, location in ROW, replacement or expansion scenarios, and adherence to 6409(d) of a 2012 law) and clarifies that local zoning and certain federal requirements would remain in effect where explicitly preserved. Key provisions include exemptions from major NEPA and NHPA triggers for covered projects and for certain federally granted easements on federal property, along with a robust set of definitions to narrow the scope. The savings clause preserves essential considerations, such as RF exposure analysis under NEPA and local land-use regulations to the extent consistent with the statute. Local zoning authorities would still apply to the extent they do not contradict the exemptions. The bill defines terms such as "covered project," "public right-of-way," and "communications facility" to limit the scope of the exemptions.
Key Points
- 1Exemption from environmental and historic-preservation reviews for covered projects. A federal authorization for a covered project may not be treated as a major federal action under NEPA, and a covered project may not be considered an undertaking under the National Historic Preservation Act.
- 2Narrow, specific definitions of covered projects and related terms. A covered project is the placement and installation of a new communications facility meeting criteria such as being in the public right-of-way, height limits (not more than 50 feet or not more than 10 feet taller than the existing structure, whichever is higher), or being a replacement, a small-antenna facility described in 6409(d), or an expansion of an existing site not exceeding 30 feet in any direction.
- 3Exemption for certain federal easements on federal property. A covered easement may not be treated as a major federal action under NEPA, and may not be considered an NHPA undertaking if it has previously been granted for another facility on the same property.
- 4Savings clause preserving other regulatory obligations. The act preserves (a) the Federal Communications Commission’s ongoing consideration of radiofrequency exposure under NEPA, (b) general NEPA or Division A of the 54 U.S.C. subtitle III obligations unless expressly exempted, (c) state/local zoning authority to the extent consistent with the new exemptions, and (d) obligations under 49 U.S.C. 20156(e).
- 5Definitions to anchor scope. Key terms defined include antenna, communications facility (aligned with 6409(d) terminology), covered easement, covered project, federal authorization, public right-of-way, utility facility, and wireless service.