House Expected To Pass Bill Hastening Broadband Deployment On Federal Lands
A vote on HR 5419 is scheduled for Tuesday
WASHINGTON, March 2, 2026 – The House of Representatives is schedule to vote on a bill Tuesday that is designed to speed up deployment of broadband on federal lands.
Sponsored by Thomas Kean Jr., R-N.J, the “Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act” will require the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to produce a report that outlines the regulations and administrative barriers to broadband deployment, and develop an action plan to address them.
“By addressing key regulatory barriers, prioritizing staffing to process permits, and improving interagency coordination, we can take real steps forward in ensuring affordable, reliable connectivity for our communities,” said Kean in a statement on Feb 12.
Kean believes that the bill will speed permit processes which he believes are a key bottleneck to deployment on federal lands, especially in tribal and rural communities where internet access is needed the most.
The bill passed out of the Committee on Natural Resources on Feb. 12, and was supported by the committee Chairman Rep. Bruce Westerman R-Ark, who commended Kean for his work on the bill. Westerman said he believed the bill would ensure the government would run more efficiently, bringing high speed internet to rural areas at a quicker pace.
“H.R. 5419 will identify and address barriers that prevent a timely review of permit applications for broadband access for rural and Tribal communities.” Westerman said in a statement on Feb 12.
The vote, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, is expected to pass under suspension of the House rules, a procedure typically reserved for uncontroversial measures.
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