Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced
Summary
More transparency and tighter permit oversight to speed broadband builds. This bill would require public tracking of BEAD spending and service, add tools to monitor federal permits for subgrantees, tighten processing controls for communications applications, and set a $5.0 million cost threshold for certain NEPA-covered projects.
Show full summary
- BEAD grant recipients and subgrantees would appear on a public progress dashboard showing grant dollars spent and the number of locations where service is available and where it is used, and would get a tool to identify required federal permits and monitor subgrantee permit progress.
- Communications applicants and executive agencies would face new data controls and oversight. The Assistant Secretary would have 90 days to set accuracy controls and to create a method to alert agencies about applications at risk of missing the 270-day deadline, and would deliver an annual report on delay causes to four congressional committees.
- Projects subject to NEPA that build broadband infrastructure would meet the FAST Act minimum cost framework only if they are likely to require more than $5.0 million in total investment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New tracking for BEAD permits
The bill would require the Assistant Secretary to publish a public BEAD progress dashboard. The dashboard would show how much BEAD grant money each eligible entity has spent and how many locations got broadband service and how many of those locations are using it. The Assistant Secretary would also make a tool for each eligible entity to identify required Federal permits for each subgrantee and to monitor subgrantee permit progress. Within 90 days after enactment, the Assistant Secretary would set data controls and an alert method to track processing time and warn agency staff about applications at risk of missing the 270-day deadline. The Assistant Secretary would analyze delay factors, take actions to address them, and report on them yearly to four Congressional committees.
Higher project test for FAST Act
The bill would change the FAST Act project test so a project qualifies if it is subject to NEPA, involves building broadband infrastructure, and is likely to cost more than $5,000,000. This change would take effect upon enactment. It would mainly affect businesses proposing broadband construction projects and could change which projects use FAST Act review processes.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
SD • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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