House Commerce Committee Clears Broadband Permitting Bills

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2025 – The House Energy and Commerce Committee cleared a package of seven broadband permitting bills Wednesday. Lawmakers traded barbs over one in particular, a Republican-led effort that would put shot clocks on state and local permit reviews.

Six of the bills were bipartisan and passed unanimously. They included legislation to digitize the permit application process at federal land management agencies and make it easier for ISPs to cross railroad lines.

The railroad bill, the Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, would make it more difficult for railroads to deny an ISP’s crossing application and give the Federal Communications Commission oversight over disputes between broadband providers and railroads, among other things.