Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act

H.R. 5419 would direct the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to study and report on barriers that slow down approvals for broadband infrastructure on federal and National Forest lands. The bill addresses a key bottleneck in broadband deployment: the lengthy permitting process for placing communications equipment like towers and cables on millions of acres of public land. Within one year of enactment, the agencies would need to submit findings to Congress and develop a staffing plan to ensure permits are reviewed more quickly. The bill passed the House unanimously in March 2026 and is now in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for consideration.

The legislation targets rural and Tribal communities that often struggle to access reliable high-speed internet. Supporters argue that federal permitting delays prevent broadband companies from expanding service to underserved areas. By identifying regulatory obstacles and ensuring adequate staffing to process applications, the bill aims to reduce approval timelines and accelerate broadband deployment. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would have minimal costs to implement.