Thune Broadband Bill Clears Committee, Targets 270-Day Federal Permit Deadline

1 articles · Updated · KOTA · Jul 23

A Senate committee advanced John Thune’s rural broadband bill, moving legislation aimed at speeding high-speed internet deployment in underserved communities toward a full Senate vote.
The measure would cut federal permitting red tape, add transparency and require broadband applications to be processed within the 270-day deadline set by the Mobile Now Act.
GAO has previously found agencies were missing that timeline, with complex environmental and historic-preservation reviews, high fees and long review periods slowing approvals.
Thune called the bill a common-sense step to streamline deployment and said he will work to get it across the finish line.