House Passes Trio of Last-Minute Broadband Bills

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2024 – The U.S. House advanced three communications bills Monday, two of which focused on resolving delays lawmakers said could hinder the success of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.

H.R. 3343: Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act

The Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act, co-introduced by Reps. August Pfluger, R-Texas, and Darren Soto, D-Fla., directly addressed concerns over how permitting delays could hinder BEAD-funded projects.

Speaking on the House floor, Pfluger cited a recent Government Accountability Office report that found the National Telecommunications and Information Administration frequently exceeds the 240-day deadline for reviewing broadband permitting requests on federal lands.