House Panel Considers the Role of Permitting in Broadband Deployment

Much has been said about the national broadband deployment process being undertaken with the support of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program. On September 18, the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing to discuss 29 (yes, 29!) bills aimed at streamlining the broadband permitting process to expedite deployment. At the hearing, the subcommittee sought to understand how permitting processes create deployment challenges for internet service providers. The bills could significantly impact broadband deployment by accelerating wireless infrastructure development, reducing environmental protections on federal lands, digitizing the permitting process, and standardizing permitting fees.