Is permitting reform streamlining or steamrolling?

The broadband industry may soon cheer if Congress legislates permitting reform. The industry has long complained that permitting processes across a multitude of federal, state, and local jurisdictions are incredibly cumbersome. Now, Congress may act to streamline all of that. However, a host of local organizations are vehemently opposed to the federal government steamrolling over their municipal rules and regulations. Congress considered multiple proposed bills to address broadband permitting. But a few months ago, they all got rolled into the House bill H.R. 2289—the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025. And there’s a good chance that members of the House of Representatives will vote on that bill soon. If it passes the House, it will then go to the Senate, and ultimately to the President’s desk. H.R. 2289 would codify strict timelines, varying from 60 to 150 days, for local governments to approve or deny wireless and wireline facility requests. If a locality misses its deadline, the permit is automatically approved once the applicant sends written notice of the failure. Essentially, the "deemed granted" mechanism means silence on the part of a locality equals approval.