House Republicans Unveil Bills to Close Digital Divide

House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OR) unveiled a package of 26 bills that aim to streamline the deployment of broadband infrastructure. These bills, spearheaded by Republican members of the House Commerce Committee, would promote new and upgraded infrastructure deployments, incentivize competition and consumer choice, right-size regulations for building infrastructure across industries, and facilitate broadband deployment on federal lands. The 26 bills would:

1. Promote New Infrastructure Deployment
2. Incentivize Competition and Consumer Choice by Promoting Collocation and Modifications to Existing Infrastructure
3. Remove Unnecessary or Duplicative Barriers from Environmental and Historical Reviews
4. Allow Broadband Deployment on Federal Lands