§1504 Broadband Infrastructure Deployment

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must write rules so States that get certain federal highway money follow steps to help put in broadband. Key terms: “appropriate State agency” is a state agency with broadband experience; “broadband infrastructure” means buried, underground, aerial, wireless, or wired facilities that carry voice, video, or data; “broadband infrastructure entity” is an organization that installs, owns, or runs broadband and provides service in the public interest; “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. Under the rules, each State transportation department must name a broadband utility coordinator, make a way for broadband providers to register, notify those providers about the State transportation improvement program at least once a year (and more often if needed), and coordinate with other state and local telecom, transportation, and land-use plans to avoid repeated digging. If a State allows broadband work in a highway right-of-way, it must not disadvantage existing providers. The rules apply only to projects first approved after the rules take effect. States are not forced to allow broadband in rights-of-way, and the Secretary may not withhold or reserve highway funds or approvals under title 23.