Accelerating Broadband Permits Act
The Accelerating Broadband Permits Act would (1) tighten oversight and speed for processing certain federal siting requests for telecommunications facilities by requiring executive agencies to implement data controls, continuously analyze delay factors, address those delays, and publicly report on them annually to Congress; plus (2) expand NEPA review requirements for larger broadband infrastructure projects. Specifically, the bill adds a new tracking and improvement section to the existing 6409(b)(3) framework, creating an alert system to flag at-risk applications and mandating regular reporting to key congressional committees. Separately, it amends the FAST Act to raise or refine the threshold for broadband projects subject to NEPA review, ensuring projects with substantial investment (over $5 million) involving broadband infrastructure undergo environmental review. In plain terms, the bill aims to make the federal permit process for certain broadband facilities more transparent and timely, while also widening environmental review for bigger broadband builds.
Key Points
- 1Data controls requirement: An executive agency must implement controls to ensure the data used to track processing times for each eligible 6409(b)(3) application is accurate and complete.
- 2Delay-factor analysis and action: Agencies must analyze delay factors as they occur, take action to address those factors, and report annually on these factors and actions to Congress.
- 3Alert system for at-risk applications: Agencies must establish a method to alert staff when an eligible application is at risk of missing the 270-day processing deadline.
- 4Annual congressional reporting: The agencies must provide an annual report on delay factors and actions to specified committees in both the Senate and House (including Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; and any other relevant committees).
- 5Expanded NEPA review for large broadband projects: The FAST Act provision on minimum broadband project cost is amended so that certain broadband construction projects meeting specified criteria (involving infrastructure for broadband and an investment likely over $5 million) would be subject to NEPA review (the National Environmental Policy Act).