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119-hr-2805119th CongressWALLET

PLAN for Broadband Act

Sponsored By: Representative Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

In Committee

Summary

Creates a National Strategy to Close the Digital Divide. This bill would require the Executive Branch to deliver a public, detailed strategy and a rapid Implementation Plan to align federal broadband programs, reduce legal and permitting barriers for State, local, and Tribal partners, and assign agency performance goals.

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  • State, local, Tribal governments and regional economic groups would get clearer paths to federal programs and faster access to federal land for broadband by streamlining easement, right-of-way, and lease processes and by addressing Tribal-specific issues.
  • Federal agencies would be given assigned roles, measurable performance targets, common data sets, and standardized application procedures. The Strategy must be completed within one year and an Implementation Plan must follow within 120 days to set accountability, regular interagency meetings, and public engagement.
  • Broadband providers and consumers would benefit from reduced program duplication, coordinated funding processes, and targeted plans to increase awareness and enrollment in affordability and adoption programs, plus requirements to monitor waste, fraud, and abuse.

The bill preserves the Federal Communications Commission's authority and requires the Government Accountability Office to study the Strategy and Implementation Plan and report recommendations within one year after the Implementation Plan is submitted.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

National broadband strategy and plan

This bill would require the Assistant Secretary to write a National Strategy to Close the Digital Divide within one year of enactment. The Strategy would list federal and State/local broadband programs, set roles and performance measures for agency heads, and identify legal and administrative barriers to deployment and participation by State, local, and Tribal governments. The Assistant Secretary would then submit an Implementation Plan within 120 days that explains how agencies will carry out the Strategy, adopt common data sets and award applications (including maps under Title VIII and the application approach in section 903(e) of the ACCESS BROADBAND Act), and monitor waste, fraud, and duplication. The bill would require public consultation on both the Strategy and the Plan and would preserve the Federal Communications Commission's existing authority.

GAO study of broadband plan

This bill would direct the Government Accountability Office to study how well the Strategy and Implementation Plan would close the digital divide. The GAO would be asked to make recommendations to improve the Strategy and Plan and report to the appropriate Congressional committees within one year after the Implementation Plan is submitted. The study would evaluate implementation, program coordination, and whether the Plan is reducing duplication and barriers.

Which agencies and programs count

This bill would define key terms and list the covered agencies for the Strategy and Implementation Plan. Covered agencies would include the FCC, NTIA, Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Education, Treasury, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, the Appalachian/Delta/Northern Border Regional Commissions, the Economic Development Administration, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The bill would also define "Federal broadband program," "Implementation Plan," "State," and "Strategy," and those definitions would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

MI • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 8/26/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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