RAPID Act

The Reducing Antiquated Permitting for Infrastructure Deployment (RAPID) Act aims to speed up the expansion of high-speed internet and wireless services by streamlining the federal approval process for telecommunications equipment. The bill would exempt certain small-scale wireless projects, such as "small cell" antennas, from lengthy environmental and historical reviews that are typically required for larger towers. For citizens, this is intended to reduce delays in broadband deployment, particularly in rural or underserved areas, by allowing providers to upgrade and install network infrastructure more quickly.