Broadband Breakfast on December 4, 2024 - Permitting on Federal Lands

As BEAD funding moves from planning into on-the-ground deployment, the spotlight is now on a crucial component: permitting on federal lands. Securing permits on federal lands has often been a slow and complex process. Concerns are mounting that delays on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program could hold back progress. Which permitting requirements present challenges for BEAD? How can federal agencies better coordinate to expedite broadband deployment while maintaining proper oversight? What role can state broadband offices play in facilitating smoother permitting processes?

Congressional Action Might be Critical for Broadband Permitting Reform

The American Broadband Deployment Act could provide needed statutory authority for permitting reforms, panelists said.

Broadband BreakfastBroadband Breakfast

Panelists

• Stephen Keegan, Senior Counsel, Government and Legal Affairs, WIA
• Ryan Kudera, Manager, Client Services, Finley Engineering
• Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Panelist resources

New Rules for Infrastructure on Historic Properties and Tribal Lands

Federal agencies must compensate Tribes or consulting parties for services performed on historical sites.

Broadband BreakfastJericho Casper

Experts Call for Permitting Reform Legislation for BEAD Funding, Energy Effectiveness

Key solutions addressing permitting for clean energy projects include interagency coordination and hiring more people.

Broadband BreakfastTeralyn Whipple

Stephen Keegan is Senior Counsel, Government and Legal Affairs at the Wireless Infrastructure Association (“WIA”).  He is responsible for analyzing legal and policy issues affecting the wireless industry before state and federal policymakers and rendering opinions on such matters.  In this role Stephen leads federal advocacy before several federal agencies including the BLM, FCC, NTIA, NPS, and USFWS.

Ryan Kudera joined Finley Engineering in 2022 as a senior consultant and was recently promoted to Manager, Client Services. Before accepting his position at Finley, Ryan served as the Broadband Director for the State of Wyoming.  Ryan has served many roles in the Telecom, Broadband, and Energy sectors during his 25-year career with positions including Field Operations, Instruction, Economic Development, Regulation, and Finance, with a continued focus on Rural Broadband in the Rocky Mountain West.

Breakfast Media LLC CEO Drew Clark has led the Broadband Breakfast community since 2008. An early proponent of better broadband, better lives, he initially founded the Broadband Census crowdsourcing tool to collect and verify broadband data left unpublished by the Federal Communications Commission. As CEO and Publisher, Clark presides over the leading media community advocating for higher-capacity internet everywhere through topical, timely and intelligent coverage. Clark also served as head of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a state broadband initiative.