U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), chairman of the subcommittee, defended the bills at today’s hearing. “These reforms will add much-needed certainty, predictability and accountability to the broadband permitting process and help accelerate deployment,” he said.
Cable lobby group NCTA called the hearing “important progress” toward “removing regulatory barriers that slow deployment in unserved areas.” Another cable lobby group, the America Communications Association, said allowing reform bills would “cut away red tape and help broadband, cable and telecommunications providers redirect resources to upgrade and expand their networks and services, especially in rural areas.”
$42 billion program delayed
Much of the debate focused on a $42 billion federal program created in November 2021 legislation to subsidize broadband construction in areas without modern access. The Trump administration rejected a Biden-era plan to distribute Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funds, forcing state governments to rewrite their plans and cut costs, delaying the start of projects. The money still has not been distributed, although the Trump administration said today it has approved rewritten plans from 18 states and territories.
Hudson alleged that BEAD faced a “four-year delay because of the Biden-Harris administration”, even though the Biden administration had nearly three years to establish the program. Hudson said it was necessary to “allow for reform” to prevent the money from getting “trapped in unnecessary reviews and bureaucratic delays”.
The bills set different deadlines for different types of network projects, ranging from 60 days to 150 days. One bill calls for permit fees for BEAD construction projects to be based on the “actual and direct cost” to the local government. Another condition is that certain environmental and historical preservation reviews are not required when removing equipment targeted by a 2019 law on foreign technology considered a security risk.
Representative Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), the subcommittee’s top Democrat, said during the hearing that she would not support “proposals that force local governments to meet tight deadlines without any additional staffing or funding.” He said if the “shot clock” specified in the law runs out, the project is automatically approved. This may seem like a way to speed things up, but in reality, it cuts out community input, leads to mistakes and sets us up for more delays in the future. If we want faster reviews, we should give more help to local communities, not take away their rights.