# 119-hr-6046: Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act

119-hr-6046, Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13] (R-PA); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6046
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-6046
- Congress: 119
- Title: Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-11-17
- Sponsor: Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13] (R-PA)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**This bill would create a federally supervised framework for deploying telecommunications and broadband in public and railroad rights-of-way.** It sets notification and application rules, firm timelines, limits on when carriers can charge for work, and gives the Federal Communications Commission a clear process to resolve disputes quickly. - Telecom and broadband providers: Can place or modify facilities in a public right-of-way after notifying the relevant railroad carrier. Work must start no earlier than 15 days and no later than 30 days after notice unless both parties agree, and providers are not required to pay the railroad for that work but must follow any state or local payment rules. - Railroad carriers: Must approve or deny complete applications for work inside railroad rights-of-way within 60 days and may deny only for substantial interference or safety risks. Carriers may bill providers for actual costs reasonably and directly related to the application and safety work. - Regulators and dispute resolution: Either party can petition the Federal Communications Commission to resolve disputes about delays, denials, or compensation. The FCC has exclusive jurisdiction, may use outside experts, must issue final orders within 90 days, and must issue implementing rules within 1 year while coordinating with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Surface Transportation Board.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Faster broadband work at rail crossings: benefit, medium. If a state or local government already okays work in a public right‑of‑way that crosses a railroad, a provider would only need to notify the railroad in writing. No separate railroad application would be required. The notice must list the location, start date, duration, entry and exit points, and c…
- FCC rules set safety and speed: mixed, medium. Within 1 year, the FCC would write rules to carry out this section. The rules would protect railroad safety and follow rail‑safety laws, speed emergency work and work at closed or abandoned crossings, and set standards for denials and for calculating actual costs. The FCC could limit locations or t…
- Safety roles and no extra insurance: mixed, medium. Providers working near or within railroad rights‑of‑way would not need to buy extra insurance for the placement. Providers would still need to follow federal safety laws and any industry standards the Commission sets, and do all work they are allowed to perform. Railroads would take protective meas…
- Standard permits in railroad rights-of-way: mixed, medium. Providers working inside a railroad right‑of‑way would file a written application with plans, location, timing, entry and exit points, and contacts. The railroad would have 60 days to approve or deny a complete application. A denial would be allowed only for real safety risks or substantial harm to…
- FCC handles rail-broadband disputes fast: mixed, low. The FCC would be the only federal venue to decide these disputes. Railroads and providers could petition the FCC, and a final order would be due within 90 days, with limited extensions. The FCC could hire experts, and the losing party on that issue may have to repay expert costs. The FCC would coor…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6766: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-1227: Alternatives to PAIN Act
- 119-hr-1065: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-6046 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6046)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6766: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6766)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-1227: Alternatives to PAIN Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1227)
- [119-hr-1065: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1065)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6046 (as of 2026-04-21).