Carr Ends Biden-Era Plan For Broadband Environmental Regulations
Proposal would have required more environmental checks on cell tower construction.
Blake Ledbetter
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2025 – The FCC continues its agenda to reverse regulations and plans put in place by the Biden administration.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issued a statement Tuesday announcing that he will be removing “additional, needless, and onerous environmental reviews” that have been under consideration at the FCC since 2022. The plans would have made broadband providers follow stricter environmental guidelines in order to build new cell towers.
This action from Carr aligns with the Trump Administrations policy agenda of removing environmental protections hindering American industry.
Carr believes that these regulations were counterproductive to the big picture of expanding broadband.
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s stated goal of connecting millions Americans to high-speed Internet service foundered on reams of red tape and a progressive policy agenda that needlessly delayed the promise of new infrastructure builds,” Carr said.
Carr said that removing this FCC consideration is “just an initial step” in freeing up companies to increase broadband infrastructure at an efficient pace. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and stakeholders to ensure that the federal government does not stand in the way of America’s broadband builders and the important work they have ahead,” Carr said.