releases: https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DD6BEC92-D352-4AE2-8D81-711C320AD84A
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DD6BEC92-D352-4AE2-8D81-711C320AD84A | Thune, Luján, Barrasso Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expedite Broadband Permits to Unserved, Rural Communities | 2024-07-29 | 2024 | 2024-07 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), ranking member and chairman, respectively, of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today introduced the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve federal agencies’ review and processing of broadband permits and allow service to be more quickly deployed to unserved communities. The legislation cuts unnecessary red tape, increases transparency into the federal permitting process, and requires all federal agencies to implement controls to ensure broadband applications are being processed within the required 270-day deadline. “To ensure rural communities across South Dakota have access to reliable broadband, it is critical that federal agencies are processing broadband permits in a timely fashion and that they are being held accountable for any delays,” said Thune. “For years I have fought for rural areas to have access to reliable broadband services, and I’m proud to introduce this legislation that would help accelerate the deployment of these services throughout our communities.” “More must be done to address the barriers that have long kept rural communities on the wrong side of the digital divide. For years, I have pushed the federal government to streamline and expedite permitting processes to improve rural broadband connectivity. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senators Thune and Barrasso to help build out broadband infrastructure in New Mexico and across the country,” said Luján. “I remain hopeful that we can work in a bipartisan way to deliver high-speed, affordable broadband to every American.” “Nearly half of Wyoming is federal land. We must ensure efficient and timely internet access for communities in these areas,” said Barrasso. “Many broadband providers have faced issues with the federal permitting process for applications on federal land. This results in higher costs for internet providers and delays in closing the digital divide across rural America. Our legislation will improve the application process and allow more projects to move forward and provide our rural communities with reliable internet services.” Thune’s MOBILE NOW Act, which was signed into law in 2018, directed executive agencies to approve or deny applications for broadband infrastructure within 270 days. In April 2024, the Government Accountability Office reported significant issues with federal agencies processing broadband applications within the 270-day deadline. Following that report, Thune and Barrasso urged the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service to fix the broken permitting process for broadband infrastructure on federal lands. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:32:29Z |