House passes Kean bill aimed at speeding broadband expansion in rural and tribal communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., aimed at accelerating broadband deployment in rural and tribal communities by addressing federal permitting delays.
The bill, H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act, passed Tuesday by unanimous voice vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Kean said the legislation is designed to reduce regulatory barriers that slow the expansion of high-speed internet infrastructure on federal land.
“I am pleased to see my bill pass the House of Representatives,” Kean said in a statement. “Bridging the digital divide requires cutting through bureaucratic red tape, inefficiencies and delays, and this legislation does just that. By addressing key regulatory barriers, prioritizing staffing to process permits and improving interagency coordination, we can take real steps forward in ensuring affordable, reliable connectivity for our communities.”
The legislation directs the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive review of administrative obstacles that delay communications use authorizations — permits required to install broadband infrastructure on federal lands.
Under the bill, the agencies would have one year to report their findings to Congress and submit a plan to ensure adequate staffing levels to review permit applications more quickly.
Supporters say the measure targets a major bottleneck in broadband expansion, particularly in rural areas where telecommunications providers often must secure permits to place infrastructure across large areas of federally managed land.
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., said the bill would help streamline the process.
“H.R. 5419 will identify and address barriers that prevent a timely review of permit applications for broadband access for rural and tribal communities,” Westerman said. “I commend Rep. Kean for his efforts to ensure that our government runs efficiently so more rural Americans can access high-speed internet.”
Kean serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee, where he works on issues related to broadband access, telecommunications policy and emerging technologies.
