Sen Wicker Urges Administration to Promote Streamlined Permitting, Approval Processes to Expedite Broadband Deployment

In a letter on broadband deployment to Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to President Joseph Biden for Infrastructure Coordination, Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) urged the Administration to address challenges surrounding access to rights of way and poles, historic and environmental reviews, and approval of a variety of applications and permits. A streamlined permitting and approval process would certainly expedite deployment of broadband. Having best practices in place before these funds are distributed would allow states and localities to focus their limited resources on cases where attention is most needed. In addition, reducing overall hurdles to deployment would ultimately speed the process of connecting Americans, who cannot afford to wait years for better quality broadband. Providing states and localities with technical assistance, promoting the use of model codes, such as those developed by the Federal Communications Commission, and prioritizing funding for projects that adhere to productive permitting processes are all ways to encourage the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars. I urge you to consider these and other options for ensuring infrastructure funding is put to the best possible use, allowing more Americans to get connected quickly and effectively. Having these streamlined processes in place is just as important to the success of this undertaking as effective guardrails as the money is distributed to states.