HR278119th CongressWALLET

BROADBAND Leadership Act

Sponsored By: Representative Griffith

Introduced

Summary

Limits state and local barriers to siting telecommunications facilities. This bill would bar states and localities from discriminating against or effectively blocking the placement, construction, or modification of facilities used to provide interstate or intrastate telecommunications service.

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  • State and local governments would have tighter limits on how they regulate siting. They could still manage rights‑of‑way and set non‑discriminatory rules for public safety and universal service. They may charge reasonable, cost‑based fees that are technology‑neutral and publicly disclosed.
  • Providers would face firm timelines for approvals: 90 days for requests involving existing support infrastructure and 150 days for other actions. If an authority misses a deadline the request would be deemed approved after the requester sends a written notice.
  • The bill would require written denials supported by substantial evidence and public release. It would allow expedited court review and let the Federal Communications Commission seek to preempt violating state or local rules, with a 120‑day decision window.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Fair, cost-based right-of-way fees for broadband builders

If enacted, states and towns could charge fees to review telecom requests or for using public rights-of-way. Fees would have to be public, neutral by provider and technology, and set in advance. They would be limited to objectively reasonable, actual and direct review costs and any repairs caused by the work. Charges would show one-time vs recurring amounts and note if sites already host similar gear. Local control of rights-of-way would remain, but only if fees follow these rules.

Faster permits and automatic approvals for broadband

This bill would set firm clocks for telecom permit decisions. 90 days for requests on eligible support infrastructure; 150 days for other work. The clock would start when the applicant first files and could pause only for narrow, written missing-info notices (30 days after filing, and 10 days after a supplement). Moratoria would not pause the clock. If the deadline is missed, the request could be deemed approved once the applicant sends written notice. Denials would need to be written, backed by evidence, and released publicly. The bill also defines what counts as eligible support infrastructure.

Limits on local bans and fast FCC backstop

This bill would bar state and local rules that block, or effectively block, offering or improving telecom service. It would also forbid treating facilities differently based on the technology or service. If a conflict remains, the FCC would be able to preempt those rules after public comment. The FCC would have 120 days to grant or deny a preemption request. Anyone harmed could sue, and courts would have to decide quickly. Lawsuits about a final decision or a failure to act would need to be filed within 30 days.

States could require eligible carrier status in rural areas

If enacted, a State could require a carrier to get eligible telecommunications carrier status before serving areas of a rural phone company. This option would not apply where the rural company has a legal exemption that blocks competitors from meeting ETC rules. It also would not apply to mobile carriers. This could help universal-service goals but could also slow new entry in some rural areas.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Griffith

VA • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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