▶ 0:19:59Work, education, our healthcare, even check ins from faraway loved ones require a broadband connection. Yet too many americans still lack access to the essential services. From the mountains of north carolina to the military base at fort bragg in my district. Reaching this final, unserved and underserved americans requires funding. It also requires permitting reform, and broadband deployment is prevented or delayed. Opaque and expensive.
▶ 0:20:28Permitting processes that exist at every level of government, federal, state, and local. These unnecessary obstacles not only increase costs for deployment, but they also they also delay progress for communities that have already waited, frankly, too long. We need to address these challenges if we hope to close the digital divide once and for all. Legislation will mark it up. Today does just that.
▶ 0:20:54First, we streamline the state and local permitting process by implementing clear timelines or shot clocks on application reviews and capping excessive fees. Next, we exempt certain projects, mostly those on previously disturbed lands, from having to perform cumbersome and duplicative environmental and historic preservation reviews. Finally, we reduce barriers to deployment on federal lands and increase coordination among different federal agencies.
▶ 0:21:22Together, these reforms will add much needed certainty, predictability, and accountability to the broadband permitting process and help expedite deployment. Many of these ideas are not new. In fact, some have already been enacted by the federal communications commission under then chairman ajit pai. The fcc reform state and local permitting. By implementing shot clocks on reviews, capping fees, and removing other barriers to deployment.
▶ 0:21:47These reforms accelerated the rollout of 5g, uh, and showed how streamlining this process can make a real difference. Congress needs to codify and build on these reforms so they last. We're on the verge of closing the digital divide and need to act now. After four years of delays caused by the biden-harris administration, deployment will soon begin through the 42.45 billion broadband equity access and deployment, or bead program.
▶ 0:22:16But for these programs to succeed, permitting reform is essential. Otherwise, all this money will be tied up in further unnecessary reviews and bureaucratic delays. We cannot let the millions of unserved and underserved americans continue waiting for the connectivity they need, simply because we failed to modernize outdated rules. Six of the bills were marking up today are bipartisan.
▶ 0:22:42I'm pleased we found common ground on these reforms, and hope we can continue working together to make the remaining bills bipartisan as well. Closing the digital divide has always been a shared goal of this committee, regardless of which party holds the gavel. We should not allow red tape and outdated bureaucracy stand between americans and the connectivity they need to work, to learn, to innovate and to thrive. I want to thank my colleagues for their continued commitment to this issue, and for their work developing these proposals.
▶ 0:23:10I look forward to moving these bills through the committee and onto the floor so we can deliver results for the american people. I now recognize the ranking member, the gentlelady from california, for her opening statement. >> thank you, Mr. chairman, and welcome back. Broadband is today's essential service. Families needed to help their kids learn to keep their jobs and to get care when they're sick.
▶ 0:23:31So I'm glad we're having this markup today because we have a lot of work to do to make sure the internet is accessible and affordable to everyone. We just went through a shutdown during which we did nothing to address the affordability affordability crisis in america. Speaker johnson kept us out of session, not doing our jobs for remarkable 54 days, all because republicans refused to even consider extending the aca's enhanced premium tax credits.
▶ 0:23:58While families are staring at skyrocketing health costs and president trump has failed to bring everyday prices down. Too often the very people high prices are hurting the most are also the ones still waiting for affordable, reliable broadband. They can't keep waiting. As we begin this markup, our job today is clearing real barriers to deployment while preserving safeguards that protect communities.
▶ 0:24:22We can do both, but to do so, we need to consider the broader context that will shape whether any of this work succeeds. State broadband offices, local leaders and providers have been planning projects for years under bead and digital equity programs since day one. President trump has thrown this process into chaos. Freezing funds, forcing restarts and stripping affordability protections, slowing deployment and keeping costs high.
▶ 0:24:50We are seeing this up close in my district. California is investing big to close the digital divide, including the $38 million in last mile funding to sacramento county alone. But we still need dollars to finish the job. That includes connecting the dead zones just 20 minutes outside of sacramento and reaching the dozens of delta farming communities still waiting for reliable service.
▶ 0:25:16If we move one step forward on permitting while taking two steps back on bead, we won't close. The digital divide will widen it. Despite these concerns, I am encouraged by the bipartisan items before us proposals that are targeted, practical and consistent with what we've heard from states, localities and builders. They make the permitting process more predictable and pushing agencies to coordinate.
▶ 0:25:46Everyone benefits when we make the process more transparent. I'm especially proud of the digital applications act, which I co-lead with representative carmack. This bill creates a one stop online portal to accept, process and track broadband permitting applications on federal land. It promotes transparency and accountability for process that's often fragmenting, helping us deliver predictable timelines without sacrificing the public interest.
▶ 0:26:16Unfortunately, there are some bills today that I won't be able to support proposals that would force local governments to meet tight deadlines without any extra staff or funding. And if this clock runs out, the project is automatically approved. That may sound like a way to speed things up, but in reality it cuts out community input, leads to mistakes, and sets us up for more delays down the road.
▶ 0:26:40If we want faster reviews, we should give local communities more help, not take away their say. Let's be honest. Let's call out what's really slowing deployment. The trump administration's constant disruptions to speed. Meanwhile, republicans are cherry picking stories about slow permits to justify steamrolling local voices and rubber stamping stamping approvals. Families in sacramento, across all our districts, just want this to work.
▶ 0:27:08They want to get online, be able to afford their bills, and know the connection will be there when they need it. We can get there if we work together. Let's pass our bipartisan bills. Stop this administration from kneecapping federal broadband funding. And finally get shovels in the ground. With that, I look forward to the discussion of these bills, and I yield the balance of my time I yield back. >> thank you. I now recognize the gentleman from georgia, the vice chairman of the subcommittee, for five minutes for an opening statement.
▶ 0:27:37He is speaking on behalf of the gentleman from kentucky. The chairman of the full committee. Gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, chairman hudson, for holding this important markup. Streamlining the broadband permitting process is important for two simple reasons closing the digital divide and ensuring america's leadership in artificial intelligence. Broadband is an essential part of everyday life.
▶ 0:28:01But too many parts of this country, particularly rural areas like most of my district, are still unserved or underserved, and connectivity is essential for ai. From utilizing ai tools to processing and transmitting data. We need to build the networks capable of meeting this demand. That's why we need to reform the permitting process and make it easier to deploy broadband. Today, this process often delays or even permits building this important infrastructure.
▶ 0:28:28Unpredictable timelines, expensive and sometimes duplicative reviews and the lack of transparency all contribute to making deployment more challenging and much more expensive. Unless we reform this process, the money and time that should be spent on deployment will instead be wasted. Wasted navigating duplicative layers of red tape legislation we are marking up today.
▶ 0:28:5328 bills will streamline the broadband permitting process and give providers the certainty and predictability they need as they plan their deployments. These bills put timelines on state and local permitting reviews, so providers know when they can expect decisions on their applications. Limit application fees so that money can be spent on construction instead of paperwork. Exempt certain projects from redundant and expensive environmental and historic preservation reviews.
▶ 0:29:23Encourage federal agencies to prioritize broadband applications and provide transparency into the opaque federal permitting review process through requiring digital portables. Affordability for the american people is the word of the day. Streamlining these processes will save the american people billions of dollars in bureaucratic red tape.
▶ 0:29:46I want to thank each of the sponsors of these bills, both republicans and democrats, for their work and commitment to ensuring that every american has access to connectivity, and it is affordable. I look forward to moving these bills through our process and signed into law. With that, Mr. chairman, I yield back. >> thank the gentleman. I now recognize the chairman, the gentleman from new jersey, the ranking member, for five minutes for his opening statement. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:30:15I'm glad the committee is finally getting back to work after the republicans shut down for more than 40 days. But I will continue to be critical of speaker johnson because he kept the house out of session during the entire shutdown and did not work with democrats to make health care more affordable during that period. Uh, and after such a long and painful hiatus.
▶ 0:30:37It's unfortunate that our republican colleagues have decided that the first order of business in this committee is a vote on their so-called broadband infrastructure permitting reform legislation. If republicans are really serious about ensuring every american has access to affordable, high speed internet service, they would join us in fighting the trump administration for its unacceptable delays of broadband deployment projects that were ready months ago, and this is the same package of partizan bills that republicans pushed last congress.
▶ 0:31:07And after investing so much time and energy in this committee on the issue, our republican colleagues never even put it on the floor for a vote. And there are two very simple reasons for that. First, the package is full of bad ideas that are unpopular with members on both sides of the aisle, putting arbitrary deadlines on state, local, and tribal governments to start and finish complicated permit reviews under threat of an automatic construction approval is opposed across the board by the local officials who are responsible for doing
▶ 0:31:37The work. Other provisions would gut any local communities ability to protect historic and culturally significant sites, especially for tribal communities. And altogether, these are the kinds of ideas that sound like reform only in washington. Now, these bills also went nowhere because they don't meaningfully address true barriers to broadband deployment that stakeholders have consistently raised with the committee for almost a decade.
▶ 0:32:02For instance, the partizan republican permitting bill does not attempt to fix the instability in the market around pole attachments, nor does their legislation even make a modest investment to to hire sufficient numbers of qualified staff to speed up permit reviews inside federal agencies. And this is especially disappointing given that the biden administration did make those investments only to have those personnel fired by trump's political appointees.
▶ 0:32:29But our colleagues will sit across the room and go on and on about red tape, as if these delays of today are not a direct result of republican actions, when in fact they are now right now, broadband deployment all across the nation is being delayed by the trump administration, and congressional republicans are standing on the sidelines and watching it happen.
▶ 0:32:46Earlier this year, the trump administration delayed more than $42 billion in broadband funding that we passed as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law that was ready to go out to states as part of the broadband equity access and deployment, or bead program. The administration made states go back to the drawing board on their state program plans, delaying broadband deployments.
▶ 0:33:08The trump administration's new policy requires states and territories to select the cheapest bids, regardless of whether those bids are the best quality or even most effective, cost effective over time, and republicans spent years demonizing the biden administration for the time it took to carefully execute a massive, highly prescriptive broadband program to connect all americans to affordable, reliable, high speed internet. But now, almost a year later, republicans have not connected a single household to high speed internet.
▶ 0:33:36In fact, the trump administration continues to delay the program, guaranteeing that rural and low income communities get slower and less reliable internet service. And they're breaking the law to do that, in my opinion. And despite republicans ongoing sabotage of the program, house democrats have shown time and time and again our commitment to the goal of ensuring everyone has access to fast, reliable and affordable internet service.
▶ 0:34:01Democrats will continue to work across the aisle to address any real structural barriers to deploying communications infrastructure across the country that we that that would stand in the way of progress. Now, I want to say I support the bipartisan bills that will be considering today. These bills aim to address issues that cause unnecessary delays and difficulty in the permitting process. Dealing with federal agencies like updating antiquated systems and requiring standard transport fee structures across the board.
▶ 0:34:31So I appreciate the fact that we have those bipartisan bills, but obviously cannot support the first bill for the reason or I guess today it'll be the last bill for the reasons that I set forth. And I will have some amendments, mister chairman. With that, I yield back. >> look forward to seeing those amendments. Thank you sir. Uh, the chair reminds members that pursuant to the committee rules, all members opening statements will be made part of the record. Are there any further opening statements?
▶ 0:34:56The chair calls up h.r. 1343 and ask the clerk to report. >> h.r. 1343, a bill to require the assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information to submit to congress a plan for the assistant secretary to track the acceptance, processing, and disposal of certain forms. >> without objection, the first reading the bill is dispensed with.
▶ 0:35:23The bill will be open for amendment at any point so ordered. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? To speak in favor of the bill? Um. You're recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill. Thank you, Mr. chairman, and I speak in favor of h.r. 1343, the federal broadband deployment tracking act. I'm proud to lead this.
▶ 0:35:48Um, what I hope will be a bipartisan and common sense bill with my colleague, congressman soto, uh, to improve transparency and efficiency in broadband deployment process. This bill, which passed unanimously on the house floor last congress, would require the ntia to submit a comprehensive plan to congress detailing how it will track permit applications to deploy on federal lands. This transparency is essential to streamline the process for accessing easements and rights of way to build and maintain telecommunications infrastructure.
▶ 0:36:18At the last hearing we had on this issue, we heard several detailed examples from providers across telecommunications spectrum outlining the urgent need for this legislation. They shared repeated stories of crews that were prepared to act with infrastructure that was fully deployed and ready to go, only to be left waiting for permits for an extraordinary amount of time.
▶ 0:36:39One witness testified that more than 600 locations could not be served due to delays in permit approvals, even though everything else was ready to be deployed, forcing the providers to walk away. Another described an example in which permits have been delayed for two and a half years, just to progress from one stage of the approval process to the next, and the company is still awaiting approval. These are not isolated incidents, they are just a few examples of the many challenges providers nationwide are experiencing.
▶ 0:37:08Passing the federal broadband deployment tracking act would be a crucial step towards fixing this process and closing the digital divide, creating a more connected future for all americans. I urge both sides of the aisle to pass this, and I'm hopeful that we can go a couple of minutes without, uh, negative comments. Um, on the administration. That would be really nice. In this bipartisan effort, I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Are there is there any further discussion on this bill?
▶ 0:37:36For what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek to be recognized? >> to strike the last word. >> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill. >> thank you, chairman. And I thank my dear friend, representative pfluger from texas. Uh, a good bipartisan bill today to start us off, uh, you know, we have 42 billion to help with rural broadband. Uh, you know, these are areas in my district that are ranch country.
▶ 0:38:00They're helping feed american places like kingsville, uh, deer park, yeehaw junction and more. And, you know, we have, uh, an 11 month runway. I'm hoping we'll get this moving, uh, because, you know, these folks have seen some utility bills going up, uh, especially power bills. So if we can get more affordability with regard to, uh, internet service, that would be a huge help.
▶ 0:38:23Areas around central florida like ocala national forest, cape canaveral, avon park air force base would really benefit from making sure we're streamlining the permitting process on federal lands for these broadband applications. And so I certainly support the bill and encourage all my colleagues to vote for it. And I yield back. >> thank the gentleman. Uh, is there any further discussion on the bill? Seeing none.
▶ 0:38:51Um, let's see, are there any amendments? Are there any. Alright. Seeing, uh, if there's no further discussion, vote occurs on um the uh, on the, on the bill.
▶ 0:39:20Is there a request for a recorded vote? Uh, seeing not the clerk will call the roll. Voice vote. >> all those. >> uh, all those in favor say aye. Opposed? Bills agreed to. Sorry, I'm a little rusty up here after 43 days, my district chair calls up h.r. 1588 and ask the clerk to report. >> h.r.
▶ 0:39:481588, a bill to require the assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information. >> without objection, first reading the bill is dispensed with, and the bill will be open for amendment at any point so ordered. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? What purpose does the gentlelady seek recognition. >> to speak in support of the bill? >> you're recognized for five minutes to speak on the bill. >> thank you, Mr. chair. I move to strike the last word.
▶ 0:40:17We need to fully realize our broadband investments. To do that, we need to make smart, thoughtful and targeted improvements to our broadband permitting process. Modernizing these systems will ensure we have an effective, transparent, and efficient process in place to deploy broadband quickly and equitably for all americans.
▶ 0:40:39That is why I'm leading bipartisan legislation with my colleague, congresswoman miller-meeks, to expedite and approve the tracking of broadband deployment on federal lands. Our facilitating digital applications act would require ntia to report to congress on whether the departments of interior and agriculture have established an online portal for the acceptance, processing and disposal of the application form used to deploy broadband on federal property.
▶ 0:41:07Our bill will modernize the current system by moving the outdated, paper based form 299 process online. It directs the interior and agriculture department to create digital portals for these applications, and requires ntia administrator to update congress every 60 days on progress made and obstacles encountered.
▶ 0:41:29By streamlining this process, our legislation aims to reduce delays at the federal level, improve transparency and applications, and accelerate the expansion of broadband and cell service, particularly in rural areas where reliable connectivity is critical for communities and where it stinks sometimes. To be blunt, we need a little more realism in here. It's a simple and common sense fix.
▶ 0:41:53Moving from a paper based form to 99 to a modern online system is a straightforward step to bring federal permanent memory into the 21st century. It will have real impact for providers, especially smaller ones trying to expand service in rural areas. It could speed up deployment of broadband and wireless infrastructure. The goal of our bill is to help provide better service for people who need it the most.
▶ 0:42:19Rural communities have been waiting way too long for reliable cell and internet service, and this bill moves us in the right direction. Modernization of these legacy systems demonstrates both the need for and the value of reporting and oversight requirements in our facilitating digital applications act.
▶ 0:42:38I want to thank my colleague, congresswoman miller-meeks, for her leadership on this effort, and I look forward to working with everyone on this committee to get this bill to the house floor. Thank you. And I yield back. >> thank you. Gentlelady. Is there any further discussion on the bill? There's no further discussion. Vote occurs on the amendment or on the h.r. Eight.
▶ 0:43:08Sorry, we've changed the format of my notes here. The question now occurs on adopting h.r. 1343. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed? No. The ayes have it and the bill is adopted and forward to the full committee. Chair calls up h.r. 1588 and ask the clerk to report. Is that right? >> the next.
▶ 0:43:42>> chair calls up h.r. 1665 and ask the clerk to report. >> h.r. 1665, a bill to require the department of the interior and the department of agriculture to establish online portals to accept, process, and dispose of certain form 299 and for other purposes. Section one short title.
▶ 0:44:03This act may be cited as the deploying infrastructure with greater internet transactions and legacy applications act, or the digital applications act. >> objection. The first reading of the bill is dispensed with. The bill will be open to amendment any point so ordered. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? Okay. Question now occurs on adopting h.r. Six. Is this right?
▶ 0:44:32Number 1665. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed? No. The ayes have it. The bill is adopted. Forward to the full committee. The chair now calls up h.r. 1681 and ask the clerk to report. >> h.r.
▶ 0:44:571681, a bill to require the assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information to establish an interagency strike force to ensure that. >> without objection, first reading, the bill is dispensed with and the bill will be open for amendment at any time so ordered. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? There's no further discussion.
▶ 0:45:25Uh, question now occurs on adopting h.r. 1681. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed? No. The ayes have it, and the bill is adopted and forwarded to the full committee. Chair now calls up h.r. 1731 and ask the clerk to report. >> h.r. 1731, a bill to amend the middle class tax relief and job creation act of 2012.
▶ 0:45:54>> without objection, the first reading the bill is dispensed with, and the bill will be open to amendment at any point. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? >> Mr. chair? >> uh, for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition? >> uh, I have an amendment in the nature of a substitute of the desk labeled rail underscore an s. Oh, sorry. >> okay.
▶ 0:46:22The gentleman yields back. Does anyone else seek recognition? >> russell was texting me. >> question now occurs on adopting h.r. 1731. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed? No. The ayes have it. And the bill is adopted and forwarded to the full committee. The chair calls up h.r. 6046 and asks the clerk to report. >> h.r. 6046, a bill to amend the communications act of.
▶ 0:46:53>> without objection, first reading. The bill is dispensed with, and the bill will be open for amendment at any time so ordered. >> Mr. chair. >> purposes, gentlemen, seek to be recognized. >> I have an amendment in the nature of a substitution at the desk labeled rail, underscore ans underscore zero one. >> the clerk will report the amendment. >> amendment in the nature of a substitute to h.r. 6046 offered by mister landsman.
▶ 0:47:19Strike all after the enacting clause and insert. >> without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentleman is recognized for five minutes in support of the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chair. I don't see Mr. joyce, but I want to thank Mr. joyce, Mr. peters, for their work. This is a bill, uh, amending a bill that we passed in september.
▶ 0:47:39Uh, we, uh, worked with their teams, uh, and the committee staff, uh, to, uh, make this bill just a little bit better and a little bit more bipartisan. And so, uh, I'm really encouraged by the work that everyone put into this, uh, this is the broadband and telecommunications rail act. Uh, and, uh, it will make it, uh, that much more, uh.
▶ 0:48:05The, the pursuing of broadband that much faster, uh, much more faster and less expensive. Uh, so if you remember, this goes back to the intersection, uh, between the public right of way roads and railroads and these tracks, and for years, uh, laying broadband has been obstructed, delayed because these railroad companies say, well, this is our property.
▶ 0:48:34And so you're going to have to go through our process. And oftentimes it's cumbersome. It, uh, it's a ton of work and a ton of money. And again, it just leads to delays and a a greater expense for broadband providers. And the folks that they serve. The changes here, uh, protect, uh, labor and ensure public safety.
▶ 0:49:01And so I just again, want to thank my colleagues for doing this and just say, before I yield back that this is a moment where, uh, both sides, I believe, want to get the country building again, whether that's housing or energy or in this case, broadband. And this bill, along with the others will get us there. Uh, but I am I am grateful to my team. Uh, and, uh, Mr. joyce and Mr.
▶ 0:49:29Peters for working with us, uh, to make this bill, uh, better. And with that, I yield back. >> thank the gentleman. I now recognize myself for five minutes to speak on h.r. 646. Um, I want to thank my colleagues, representative joyce, representative landsman and representative peters, for their many months of work on this legislation.
▶ 0:49:50While more remains to be done, today's subcommittee markup and the aims that will be offered by representative landsman demonstrates our commitment to continuing working with our colleagues across the aisle ahead of a full committee markup. With that, I yield back. Is there any other discussion on the amendment? What purpose the gentleman from california wish to be recognized? Move to strike. >> the last word on the. >> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:50:17I'm also proud to to co-lead the broadband and telecommunications rail act with my colleagues, representative joyce and landsman. Uh, we have heard that when broadband companies try to build out telecommunications infrastructure along railroad crossings, costs and approval times skyrocket. And that's not acceptable. High costs and lengthy delays are keeping our constituents from connecting to the internet, and only furthers the digital divide in america.
▶ 0:50:41To streamline the deployment process between broadband providers and railroad carriers, this bill will implement firm timelines, conflict resolution processes, and fee scales to help the federal communications commission move faster in support of the public interest, would outline the responsibilities of each party and give the fcc authority where it previously had none. So this bill solves a real problem we were facing in helping our constituents get connected to the internet.
▶ 0:51:06In the age of technology, it's more important than ever for americans to be connected as quickly as possible so they can access employment opportunities, education, telehealth care, and by streamlining broadband deployment and speeding up access to fast, reliable and affordable internet connection, we can work towards bridging the digital divide, ensuring equal access to educational and economic opportunities. So thanks again to my colleagues. I look forward to working with the subcommittee and the full committee as we move toward, um, markup and to the floor.
▶ 0:51:36Uh, appreciate the work, and I yield back. >> thank the gentleman. Is there any further discussion on the amendment? Seeing none. All in favor of the amendment signify by saying I. Aye. All opposed? Nay. The ayes have it, and the amendment is agreed to. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill?
▶ 0:51:59The question now occurs on adopting h.r. 646, as amended. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed? No. The ayes have it. The bill is adopted and forwarded to the full committee. The chair calls h.r. 2289 and ask the clerk to report.
▶ 0:52:29>> h.r. 2289, a bill to provide that an eligible facilities request under. >> objection, first reading of the bill is dispensed with, and the bill will be open for amendment at any time so ordered. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? Uh, for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek to be recognized? >> Mr. chairman, I have an amendment in the nature of a substitute at desk. >> clerk will report the amendment. >> amendment in the nature of a substitute to h.r. 2289 offered by Mr. carter of georgia.
▶ 0:53:00Strike all after the enacting clause. >> without objection, reading the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentleman is recognized for five minutes in support of the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Mr. chairman, I would like to thank all my colleagues for their work to lead on different solutions to lower barriers and streamline the processes for deploying broadband to all americans.
▶ 0:53:17This amendment includes several provisions authored by my republican colleagues, addressing everything from duplicate or unnecessary environmental reviews, limiting unnecessary application fees, and providing certainty on the timelines for reviewing permitting requests. At our legislative hearing, we heard from experts that broadband permitting remains a barrier to closing the digital divide. Today, we are taking an important step to unleash innovation and turbocharge public and private investment.
▶ 0:53:46First, my amendment would streamline the process for requesting approvals to deploy new broadband infrastructure, including wireless power towers or structures, fixed broadband and fiber optic cables, and cable service provider request. The amendment would require that application fees to review permitting applications are based on actual and direct cost that providers receive a response within a reasonable amount of time, and that there are clear rules of the road for when these time frames begin and end.
▶ 0:54:16And in cases where broadband provider thinks they were wrongfully denied the ability to provide service, they can receive relief so that they can focus their time and energy on what matters most. Connecting all americans.
▶ 0:54:34Second, my amendment will streamline the process for requesting approval to upgrade existing infrastructure, including adding 5g to existing 4g towers, upgrading old copper lines to fiber, or deploying openran compatible technologies that will help trusted equipment vendors develop an alternative to chinese vendors, like how you and zte.
▶ 0:54:55These changes will help limit the environmental impact of needing new infrastructure by encouraging providers to upgrade facilities in areas that have already undergone an environmental or historical preservation review.
▶ 0:55:12Finally, my amendment will ensure that environmental reviews for broadband deployments are proportional to the level of deployment taking place in cases where in cases where broadband providers are simply upgrading infrastructures and right of ways that have already been disturbed by other communications or electric utility infrastructure, and environmental review has already been undertaken and the land has already been disturbed.
▶ 0:55:38My amendment would remove the requirement to undergo these reviews where broadband infrastructure is being deployed entirely in an area for which a review has already been conducted and infrastructure already exists. This includes waiving the environmental reviews to replace untrusted equipment that is eligible for reimbursement under the secure and trusted communications networks act. This straightforward reform will remove a key barrier to broadband deployment, especially on federal lands, where reviews can take more than two years.
▶ 0:56:08This amendment combines legislation led by every one of my republican colleagues on this committee, and I would like to thank them for their thoughtful proposals to bring affordable broadband to their communities quickly and ensure that taxpayer dollars are not wasted on more red tape. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back. >> thank the gentleman. Is there, uh, for what purpose? Gentleman from california seek to be recognized. >> I move to strike.
▶ 0:56:37The last word. >> was recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you. I, I just want to take a moment, Mr. chairman, to reflect on the timing of these discussions and this amendment. We are here in native american heritage month, a time when we honor the rich history, culture and contributions of tribal nations across the country.
▶ 0:56:57And yet some of these provisions in the permitting bills we are considering today in this amendment will allow exemptions to the national historic preservation act exemptions that could put tribal history, culture, sites and sacred lands at risk. And there is a troubling irony in that.
▶ 0:57:16On one hand, you celebrate and acknowledge tribal heritage, on the other, you are advancing legislation that could erode the very history we claim to honor. Streamlining processes may be important, but it cannot come at the cost of erasing history or undermining tribal sovereignty. Tribal sovereignty is not just a legal concept.
▶ 0:57:40It is a matter of fairness, justice and respect for the nation to nation relationship that defines our country. We cannot in good conscience move forward with legislation that impacts tribal lands while leaving tribal communities underfunded or stripping them of the authority to decide their own future. Honoring tribal nations means more than a post on social media recognizing the month. It means action.
▶ 0:58:09It means upholding their rights, respecting their history, and ensuring that federal programs are designed in partnership with not imposed upon, tribal communities. That is the measure of true progress, and I yield back. >> thank you, gentlemen. For what purpose? Gentleman from ohio seek to be recognized. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Strike the last word. >> uh, then you're recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:58:36I thank the gentleman from georgia for leading this essential legislation, which is an important step in ensuring that every american has access to high speed broadband. It makes common sense reforms that will make permitting applications less costly, more timely and more predictable, which is essential to closing the digital divide, included in this things is my legislation, the wireless leadership act, which will help expedite the deployment of wireless
▶ 0:59:06Infrastructure. This legislation will set timelines that state and local governments must abide by when reviewing applications, and create a deemed grant remedy for reviews that missed deadlines. It would also reduce the cost of deployment by limiting the fees of those governments that can charge for those governments can charge for reviewing applications and using the right of way. We need to make sure new networks can be built in a timely and cost efficient manner.
▶ 0:59:33And broadband permitting reform is the missing piece of the puzzle. To ensure that every american has access to the internet. I'm pleased we are forwarding this legislation to the full committee, and I yield back the balance of my time. >> thank you gentlemen. For what purpose? Gentleman from california seek to recognize. >> mister chairman. Strike the last word. >> gentleman is recognized to speak on the amendment for five minutes. >> I just want to say, I think it's unfortunate that we are bunching all of this together and don't have a discussion about it.
▶ 1:00:02There's much in here that I think is consistent with what I'm trying to do on energy and permit reform. Um, and there's efforts here to reduce duplicative review. And I would just call out a few that I'm interested in, the wildfire communications resiliency act, the 3960, the connecting community post disasters act, this, uh, 15 or 52 for the speed for broadband infrastructure act, the trusted broadband networks act, and the granted act, all really interesting ideas.
▶ 1:00:28I think, uh, are consistent with principles that I could support, unfortunately, because we're, I guess, jammed for time. We can't discuss these individually. Um, we're not going to have a discussion about those, but I do support getting rid of duplicative review. I think there's some things in this package worth supporting. Uh, but unfortunately it's mixed with a lot of stuff that I think I object to and look forward to working with the committee on, um, finding those areas where we can agree and move forward and I yield back. >> I thank the gentleman for gentleman from florida seek to be recognized.
▶ 1:00:59>> uh, move to strike the last word. >> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I urge support for the 28 permitting reform bills we're marking up today. These bills are crucial for building commercial and federal broadband capabilities. If we want to secure our technological dominance on a global scale, we must follow through for our communications industry, for national security and american families. Luckily, we've succeeded this year in a few major ways.
▶ 1:01:29We've delivered a huge win to the american people with the one big beautiful bill act unleashing over 800mhz of spectrum and securing major tax extension benefits to assist industry in achieving these goals. However, we need to follow through on these promises by enacting permitting reform. Without permitting reform, none of the infrastructure needed to connect floridians who've been waiting for years will be a reality.
▶ 1:01:57Aside from government funding, we've passed specifically for broadband programs like $42 billion for the bead program, one of the most prominent permitting actions we've taken was in 2018, when congress passed the mobile now act, which established a 270 day deadline for executive agencies to grant right of way or leases to install, construct, modifier, maintain communications facilities on federal property.
▶ 1:02:26But 270 days seems like an exorbitant amount of time to replace replace critical infrastructure after a hurricane or natural disaster. My bill connecting the communities post-disaster act would help resolve these processing and permitting hurdles. It will accelerate, uh, replacing and improving communication facilities in presidentially declared disaster areas.
▶ 1:02:56And I'm confident we have solutions in these bills today to address the much needed updates in our current laws on broadband infrastructure and deployment, I urge support for my colleagues on both sides to pass these critical bills, and I yield back the remainder of my time. >> thank the gentleman for gentlelady from michigan seek to be recognized. >> uh, I move to strike. The last word. >> gentlelady is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:03:25I'm very concerned about what this bill does to the national environmental policy act, or nepa. I'm a staunch defender of the environment, and many of you know how hard the man who this room is named after worked on nepa as an original author and having it signed into law today, nepa remains one of our nation's strongest tools to ensure communities have meaningful input on major federal actions.
▶ 1:03:52And that's why I'm deeply concerned with title three, section 301 of this amendment, which would exempt any covered project from both nepa and the national historic preservation act. Section 301 says that any federal authorization for a covered project cannot be considered a major federal action under nepa, and cannot be considered an undertaking under.
▶ 1:04:18In practice, that means no environmental review and no historic preservation review. Full stop. And the definition of a covered project is incredibly broad. It includes the mounting, the installation or modification of wireless facilities, wireline deployments on existing infrastructure, small cells, and nearly all work in public rights of way.
▶ 1:04:46It also includes any deployment in a brownfield, which should alarm anyone whose community has ever dealt with environmental cleanups or superfund sites, something southeast michigan knows too well. These are areas where vulnerable communities already bear the brunt of pollution and climate risk. Under this legislation, broadband infrastructure in brownfield would totally bypass environmental review.
▶ 1:05:15Covered projects also include post-disaster rebuilds, equipment swaps, removing insecure equipment and projects under fcc geographic licenses. Even significant modifications like antenna swaps, equipment upgrades, or expansion of existing towers are already largely exempt under existing categorical exclusion parameters.
▶ 1:05:43In effect, almost every routine wireless and wireline deployment already skips any serious level of nepa review altogether, nepa's director directive is straightforward the federal government must consider how a project will affect the environment, and the people impacted should have a real chance to weigh in.
▶ 1:06:08That includes examining climate impacts, environmental justice concerns, and effects on culturally or historically sensitive sites. Eliminating those reviews means eliminating the voices of frontline communities, many of which have been ignored or overburdened for too long. I believe we should have bipartisan conversations about smart and targeted permitting reform.
▶ 1:06:33And I've I've said before, I welcome an honest conversation about long term nepa modernization that protects communities while allowing projects to move efficiently, efficiently. But this proposal takes the wrong approach. It doesn't streamline nepa, it guts it. We should not have to choose between deploying broadband and protecting bedrock environmental laws. We can and should do both.
▶ 1:07:02What we cannot do is adopt the exemptions that silence communities and undermine decades of environmental protection. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to reject this aims and oppose this legislation. Thank you. And I yield back. >> thank you. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek to be recognized? Mr. chairman. >> I move to strike the last word.
▶ 1:07:30>> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I am glad to see this committee advancing common sense legislation to streamline and standardize permitting for critical wireless infrastructure that we all rely on. With these reforms, we can both improve efficiency, inefficient processes, and clear bottlenecks while respecting the rights of local, state and federal stakeholders to make their voices heard.
▶ 1:07:55We also have a real opportunity to find consensus on ways to modernize and improve efficiency within federal agencies. In addition to many important measures in this markup, as led by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I've introduced the enhancing administrative reviews broadband deployment act, which will which will direct a review of administrative barriers to timely reviews of federal permitting applications and and
▶ 1:08:25To propose improvements. This bill sits before the house natural resources committee. I look forward to continuing this timely conversation on how we can drive a whole of government approach to improving efficiency within our government. I support this amendment and I yield back. >> gentlelady from california recognized. >> move to strike. The last word. >> gentlelady is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I want to highlight the most dangerous consequences of this bill.
▶ 1:08:53The republican broadband permitting bill forces state, local and tribal governments into rigid federal deadlines called shot clocks. Miss the deadline, and the project automatically moves forward even if safety inspections, environmental reviews or cultural protections are incomplete. Make no mistake, this is not reform.
▶ 1:09:14This is a blueprint for rushed decisions, unsafe construction and communities being cut out of critical decisions that affect their broadband access and safety. Broadband deployment depends on officials who know their communities and local impacts, but this bill punishes them with rigid deadlines that ignore local realities.
▶ 1:09:37A county of one staff member reviewing dozens of applications, or a city managing wildfire risk and underground utilities would have to meet the same timeline as every other community. If they can't keep up projects, move forward automatically before safety inspections are done, before environmental risks are reviewed, before local input is considered. That's dangerous and not the turbocharge that's needed. For tribal nations.
▶ 1:10:06The stakes are even higher. They are sovereign governments, and the united states has a legal and moral trust responsibility to protect their lands and resources. And this bill forces tribal governments into rigid deadlines, just as it does to states and localities or tribal historic preservation offices. Review projects for impacts on sacred sites, cultural resources, and historic landmarks.
▶ 1:10:34These offices are already understaffed and underfunded by congress, yet this bill forces them to meet impossible deadlines, leaving them no choice but to approve projects on a rush schedule or watch them automatically move forward without tribal input. By imposing restrictive shot clocks on tribal nations, and oppose.
▶ 1:10:59This bill pushes tribes out of the review process, violates the federal trust, and puts tribal communities at risk. Congress could fix the real problem by fully funding, th. Yet republicans refuse to invest. And this is nothing new. The trump administration and congressional republicans have consistently failed tribal communities as we speak.
▶ 1:11:25Trump's ntia is hoarding nearly $1 billion in tribal broadband connectivity grants that congress approved funds that could connect thousands of unserved native homes. That's unacceptable. Rushing tribal consultation may satisfy the majority's political calendar, but it betrays our nation's obligations across the board, state, local and tribal. The shot clocks are shortcuts, not solutions.
▶ 1:11:55They do not build safe infrastructure. They do not expand broadband access responsibly. And the people who will pay the price are the communities we represent. I yield back. >> thank you. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek be recognized? >> I move to strike the last word. >> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:12:16I know we all share a commitment to ensuring that america remains on the forefront of information technology, and as part of that mission, it is critical that we continue to support and find ways to increase americans access to broadband internet. And that's a specific problem in rural parts of america, like the one that I represent.
▶ 1:12:36Uh, it surprises a lot of people to find out that my district has 78% of its landmass, that is, federal land managed by, uh, or agencies like the department of the interior and the department of agriculture. And those are the agencies that are responsible for reviewing and approving applications to deploy broadband and broadband connectivity across federal property.
▶ 1:13:00But unfortunately, those agencies have been historically very slow to approve applications for leases on that federal land. So we here in congress have tried to address that problem in the past by directing those agencies to develop a master contract to government, to govern the placement of broadband infrastructure on property owned by the federal government.
▶ 1:13:22We've told them to use a common application form, and we've established a 270 day clock on federal agencies to process applications, to place communications facilities on federal property. Now, I want to emphasize this because we've heard some opposition to this part of the bill today. Uh, that, uh, that shot clock is, is not adequate. Uh, folks, that is already federal law that 270 days, these agencies are already required to comply with that.
▶ 1:13:49But unfortunately, there is no consequence when they fail to comply with that shot clock. And that's why this action is needed. So I want to thank the gentleman for georgia, for including my bill in this package today, h.r. 1836, the granting remaining applications not treated effectively or delayed, or we call the granted act, uh, which creates a deemed granted remedy for applications to place infrastructure on federal lands that remain pending after that 270 days.
▶ 1:14:16So basically, we're just trying to incentivize these agencies to make sure those applications get processed in a timely manner. And there are exceptions for various, uh, incomplete applications and other scenarios that that might hamper that effort. So I think this is going to meaningfully increase americans access to broadband internet by streamlining this permitting process. This is something that's been a priority for the administration. I think it's a priority for folks in rural america, like the ones I represent.
▶ 1:14:44And I want to thank you for including that in this markup today. Uh, and urging, I vote on the underlying as I yield back. >> thank you. The gentleman, is there any further discussion on the amendment in the nature of a substitute? What purpose does gentlelady from florida know? What purpose gentleman from virginia seek to be recognized? >> I would like to speak to the bill. >> the gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. In the nature of a substitute. >> Mr.
▶ 1:15:13Chairman, I appreciate it, and I just want to clear up a couple things. I didn't hear anybody on the section that that is included in the aims. That is h.r. 720. Excuse me. 278. Uh, I didn't hear any objection on the fee part, and that has to be justified, of course. Uh, by the, uh, incumbent pole holder or company.
▶ 1:15:36But there were real concerns that seemed to indicate that, uh, that the shot clock, which I'm a big fan of, generally, the shot clock would force automatic approval. That's not actually accurate. I mean, it could be if there's not a legitimate reason for turning down the application.
▶ 1:15:56But nothing in the bill says that a local government or other entity, state, local government, indian nation couldn't turn down the proposal if there were legitimate health and safety concerns. And I heard somebody say that, you know, it must be approved rapidly. No. If there's a legitimate concern, the only thing this bill changes is to when you turn the person or the entity down to do broadband, you have to explain that in writing.
▶ 1:16:26So legitimate concerns, Mr. chairman, can be addressed because you turn them down and then the company has the ability to go back and work on solving those health concerns, solving those issues that the local government thought was sufficient to turn them down on and resolve those and then reapply. The shot clock, though, is to keep out some entities. And it's not a majority, Mr.
▶ 1:16:55Chairman, but there are some entities that are using this as a backdoor way of denying they just never make an answer. And you can't get a resolution to the issue. Uh, if you never get an answer, you keep it out there, you keep spending the money on it. You keep hoping that something will work out. You don't have the ability to go if if there's not a reasonable concern, you don't have the ability to go and get an arbiter, an arbitrator.
▶ 1:17:22I the court systems to rule on whether or not it's a reasonable concern or reasonable. Uh, objection. And you're just caught in limbo. And that's the purpose of the shot clock. But I don't want anybody to think that this bill would require an approval when there are health and safety concerns. And that's why I felt compelled to speak up, Mr. chairman. And, uh, there may very well be some legitimate issues. I don't deny that. But there's a mechanism to make that work.
▶ 1:17:51And this bill does not change that. It just means you've got to work on it in a different and faster process. I yield back. >> thank the gentleman. Is there any further discussion on the amendment in the nature of a substitute, what purpose does gentleman from new jersey seek recognition? >> uh, Mr. chairman, I move to strike the last word. >> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment in nature of a substitute. >> thank you. Chairman, I just want to get two of the things that we're discussing today. One is, uh, conversation around efficiency.
▶ 1:18:19And the part that I struggle with is, like so many of my colleagues, including my colleague from california, Mr. peters, we want to engage in that conversation. We just feel that in this congress, republicans lack the authority on efficiency. We saw early on in this administration dosage, uh, cut through federal government in the, uh, idea of the advancement of efficiency, which they completely failed at. Right? We fired federal workers, federal workers. We didn't make government more efficient. Right.
▶ 1:18:46The whole point of reconciliation and cutting over $880 billion from health care was fraud, waste and abuse. But all you did was take $1 trillion out of medicaid for people across the country. That's not efficiency. And I think that there's not much credibility, which makes it hard to support the bills that we're considering today. And when you talk about a shot clock, right, and government having to act, that strikes me as as really ironic, considering that house leadership had us at a session for over 54 days.
▶ 1:19:15We could have been here working on a number of issues, including the ones that are before us, but instead, house leadership chose to keep us in our district. So I just don't think there's much credibility to have this conversation and to take your word at what these bills will achieve. And so therefore, I'll be voting no. And I urge my colleagues to as well I yield back. >> thank you. For what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognized? >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I thank the.
▶ 1:19:45>> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Thank you to Mr. carter for bringing this package together to modernize broadband permitting, and finally get deployment moving. Uh, I'd like to highlight my own bill contained within the aims, um, which is the trusted broadband networks act across the country, small and rural broadband providers are working to remove telecommunications equipment that the federal government has already deemed to be a national security risk. Providers are ready to do it, but the federal red tape is slowing them down.
▶ 1:20:15Uh, not for installing new equipment, but for removing the insecure equipment we've already deemed to be dangerous. This makes no sense. Uh, something in our networks is a known national security risk. It shouldn't take months of environmental and historic preservation paperwork to remove it. My bill cuts that delay. When a provider removes insecure equipment and replaces it with trusted equipment. Federal agencies should not treat that swap as a significant federal action that triggers lengthy permitting reviews. That's it.
▶ 1:20:45It's it's narrow, it's targeted, and it only applies to projects where equipment has been removed, uh, and has already been flagged under federal law as insecure. This legislation is especially important in small rural networks that serve communities like those I represent in south carolina. These providers don't have spare crews waiting around. They're they're trying to comply with federal requirements and protect their customers.
▶ 1:21:10They should not be punished with more delays by our federal government for trying to do the right thing, based on standards that the federal government has set. Every month of delay is another month that we allow adversary linked technology to sit in american networks. This bill puts national security ahead of bureaucracy, ensures rip and replace happens on the timeline congress intended, and helps rural america stay connected and secure. I'm proud of this legislation. I'm proud that it's part of this package today, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support it.
▶ 1:21:40With that, Mr. chairman, I yield back. >> thank you. Any further discussion on the amendment? Nature of substitute. What purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek to be recognized? >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I move to strike the last word. >> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. >> thank you, Mr. chairman and ranking member matsui, I'm speaking today in support of my bill, which is included in the ans, the cable competition act. One of the clearest barriers to service and lower prices isn't technology. It's delay.
▶ 1:22:07Across southeastern indiana, families are frustrated by long waits and for promised internet upgrades and better service, especially when a new cable operator takes over. Consumers shouldn't have to wait months or years for the price competition and improvements they were promised. That's what the consumer access to broadband for local economies and competition act. The cable competition act, fixes.
▶ 1:22:33It's simple pro-consumer and common sense. If a new operator agrees to honor the existing franchise terms, the transfer proceeds. No duplicative approvals, no moving the goalposts after investments have been committed. This aligns with republicans long standing objective of removing unreasonable barriers to broadband deployment. It doesn't spend new money or build a new bureaucracy.
▶ 1:22:59It simply provides clear rules and predictable timelines so private investment can do its job. The bottom line is competition lowers prices and certainly attracts capital. The cable competition act delivers both, allowing consumers to keep the contract, cut the delays and delivering families better service at a better price.
▶ 1:23:23I urge my colleagues to support the amendment in the nature of a substitute, which includes my bill, the cable competition act, and I yield back. >> thank you. Is there any further discussion on the amendment? For what purpose? Gentleman from texas seek recognition. Move to strike. The last word. Gentleman's recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:23:42Um, my bill, which is brought into this bill, uh, the speed for broadband infrastructure act is a very simple bill for too long, access to high speed internet in rural communities and military bases has been held back by federal red tape. My bill streamlines the permitting, something we've all been asked to do. Uh, the permitting process so we can deliver faster and more reliable internet access across the nation, spurring economic growth and strengthening our national security. And I yield back the rest of my time.
▶ 1:24:11Thank you, mister chairman, and my colleagues. >> thank you. Is there any further discussion? For what purpose does the gentlelady from north dakota seek recognition? >> I seek to strike the last word. >> gentlelady's recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment nature of substitute. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I'm proud to speak in support of my bill, which is also part of this overall package, the cable expansion act.
▶ 1:24:32Across rural america, providers face costly, unpredictable delays when trying to delay, deploy or upgrade broadband infrastructure. These setbacks stall projects and widen the digital divide. For example, just last week I was visiting with chairwoman lana jackson, street of the spirit lake tribe.
▶ 1:24:54She talked about the challenges with by permitting delays for broadband and the impact that has on growing jobs and opportunities in for her tribal members. Right now, an operator can submit an application and wait months, sometimes more than a year, without a response. There's often no firm timeline for local review, no uniform requirement for a written decision, and no guarantee that fees reflect actual direct costs.
▶ 1:25:22At the same time, local governments want to protect their rights away and hold companies accountable. The current system isn't serving anyone. We need a permitting process that's one built for modern broadband, two preserves local authority, and three prevents unnecessary barriers that slow down development and drive up costs. My bill, the cable expansion act, strikes that balance.
▶ 1:25:48It streamlines the permitting process while preserving local authority over siting facilities for cable service. It establishes a responsibility to respond for franchise authorities so applications can't be ignored indefinitely. Additionally, it sets clear timelines for decisions 150 days for new broadband infrastructure and 90 days for upgrades to existing facilities.
▶ 1:26:13Those are very reasonable if an application isn't approved or denied with written reasons. Within those timelines, the request is automatically deemed granted. But rest assured, folks can engage, provide the written reasons within those timelines and be heard. This will help keep projects moving and prevent endless red tape. Any denial must be backed by evidence made public and evaluated in a nondiscriminatory manner.
▶ 1:26:42And lastly, it brings transparency to local fees by requiring them to be based solely on actual im, these improvements apply not only going forward, but also retroactively to pending applications.
▶ 1:26:59Communities that have been stuck in limbo for years can finally get answers and get broadband infrastructure built by creating a fair process that strengthens strengthens deployment and lowers costs. My bill will help help make serious progress in closing the digital divide. I urge urge my colleagues to support this bill and the anes. Thank you, Mr. chairman, and I yield back. >> thank you.
▶ 1:27:27For what purpose does the gentlelady from california, the ranking member, seek recognition? >> Mr. chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. >> the clerk will report the amendment. Could you specify the amendment? >> yes. Beads. Funds zero one. >> amendment to the amendment. In the nature of a substitute to h.r. 2289.
▶ 1:27:54>> without objection, reading the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentlelady is recognized for five minutes in support of the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Connecting every community to affordable, high quality broadband has to stay at the heart of this committee's work. My amendment is simple. None of the hyperpartisan republican permitting provisions in this bill would take effect until all funds are released to the states and expanded. This bill is a distraction from the real roadblocks to affordable broadband deployment.
▶ 1:28:23The trump administration delays and gutting of federal broadband funding. Instead of mandating arbitrary permitting deadlines and bulldozing over local expertise, we should finish the job congress already started and see that federal broadband dollars actually reach the communities we promise to connect. Broadband deployment experts have been clear the main reason companies don't build in certain areas is that it's not profitable.
▶ 1:28:49Be changes that by making these projects worth doing financially, not by injecting a grab bag of partizan permitting shortcuts, congress made a once in a generation investment through bead. States like california have spent years consulting communities, mapping gaps in coverage and designing competitive processes so that dollars go where they need them most. They are ready to build. Instead of helping.
▶ 1:29:16President trump's ntia has moved the goalposts again and again. Guidance changes midstream, approvals are rescinded and state plans are sent back to the drawing board. While republicans look the other way and blame permitting, that chaos has consequences. It means families go another school year without reliable internet clinics can't support telehealth.
▶ 1:29:42Small businesses in my district still can't compete online in my district. Local partners have trained community based organizations to serve as digital navigators, ready to help families sign up for low cost coverage, low cost service devices and skills training. But without b deployment, they're standing there with people who want to get online but have no reliable connection to offer them.
▶ 1:30:09Sacramento state has used a biden era ntia connecting minority communities grant to help connect more than 3000 residents. That grant ends this month, and without being moving forward, vital lifelines like this just disappear. Leaving communities have finally got help.
▶ 1:30:30Stranded once again for california and other states, the trump administration is compounding uncertainty by rescinding earlier approvals for bids non deployment funds without providing clear replacement guidance, leaving states and local partners in limbo without about planning workforce and a digital inclusion investments that make networks usable on day one.
▶ 1:30:58On top of that, the trump ntia is pressuring states to walk away from state net neutrality and affordability laws as a condition of funding for providers. Let me be clear that is backwards. California fought for strong net neutrality and consumer protections because our residents demanded an open, affordable internet.
▶ 1:31:24States should not be strongarmed into disregarding their consumer protection laws just to unlock federal dollars. My amendment makes clear that we must get b back on track. B, not permitting. Rubber stamps is a backbone of our national broadband strategy. It should come first, not last. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. With that, I yield back my time.
▶ 1:31:54>> thank you. I'm sorry, gentlemen, I'd like to yield to. >> yes, I yield to. >> the member of the full committee. >> he's going to get his. >> oh, you. He's your own time. >> okay. I yield back. >> gentlelady yields back. The chair now recognizes myself for five minutes to speak on the amendment. Uh, I want to thank the ranking member for, uh, the spirit in which she introduced this amendment. I know she and I are both very passionate about the need to to get broadband deployed and to get these bead funds out as quickly as possible. Um, but and to that point, great news.
▶ 1:32:22Today, ntia approved 18 states, uh, final proposals. So bead funds are on the way. They're out the door. But almost as importantly, because of innovation and efficiency, uh, eliminating burdensome rules and regulations that were part of the bead program. Uh, the trump administration has saved taxpayers $6 billion, uh, on just these first 18 states.
▶ 1:32:49Uh, so not only is the money moving, but because we got rid of burdensome regulations and requirements, uh, it's being done much more efficiently at a greater savings to the taxpayer. So, you know, the purpose of these funds was to close the digital divide.
▶ 1:33:03Uh, the purpose of this legislation is to ensure that the funds for broadband deployment aren't unnecessarily delayed further by bureaucratic red tape, uh, through the permitting process, delaying enactment of legislation that would speed up closing the digital divide until it funds to close the digital divide are dispersed is backwards in logic. Uh, the funds are being dispersed. We don't need the delay.
▶ 1:33:26What we need to do is make sure as this money goes out the door, that it's very it's we're actually putting broadband in the ground and connecting people. And so, uh, so I would urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. And with that, I will yield back my time. Is there any further discussion on the amendment? Uh, chair recognizes the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. pallone, for five minutes to speak on the amendment. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. chairman. >> I, um, I don't know.
▶ 1:33:51You're saying it's on the way and out the door, but that's not doesn't seem to be the case at all. Um, after years of complaining about delays to broadband infrastructure funding, republicans announced sitting on the largest investment in connectivity in our nation's history. And they're sitting on it. It's not out the door. Instead of getting these funds out the door and shovels in the ground as quickly as possible, the trump administration is micromanaging decisions made by state broadband offices.
▶ 1:34:21And some oversight, of course, is expected. Even if republicans spent the last three years making bad faith characterizations about the biden ntia doing exactly that, consistent with the law. But the problem is, the current involvement is not simply oversight.
▶ 1:34:36The trump administration is slowing down the program specifically to remove certain projects that would utilize more reliable broadband technologies, forcing states to scramble to find cheaper bills that use lower quality technologies and a more expensive for consumers.
▶ 1:34:52And there's no clear mechanism within the law that would explain this kind of behavior by the assistant secretary, as the law stipulates that all americans be connected to broadband service using technologies that support high speeds and are scalable over time.
▶ 1:35:07But based on the public comments of secretary lutnick, it appears that the commerce department and ntia are trying to run the program using cheap technologies in an attempt to net some level of savings to return to the treasury, and this approach also raises significant concerns about the future of the bead funds, because specifically authorized and appropriated to cover what they call non-deployment uses, the trump ntia has essentially paused all work on non-deployment projects, and has left states with little
▶ 1:35:40Insight as to how their non-deployment plans will factor into their larger efforts under the bead program. And non-deployment funds are a critical component of the bead program because they ensure that unserved and underserved communities getting this connectivity for the first time have the skills and training to adopt the service and use it safely and securely. And it should go without saying that the bead program, all 42.5 billion of it was enacted specifically for the purposes and uses that are outlined in the law.
▶ 1:36:10Nowhere in the bipartisan infrastructure law is there any allowance for the secretary of commerce or the ntia administrator to impound bead funds in order to create the appearance of excess money. And that's why I support the matsui amendment by requiring the commerce department to release all funds consistent with the bit with the bipartisan infrastructure law, we can prevent republicans in washington from shortchanging rural communities who have been left behind time and time again.
▶ 1:36:38And there's still time to save the bead program from the trump administration, which now appears on track to ruin its second broadband program in as many terms. So we look, Mr. chairman, we've come too far, and the stakes are too high to allow this funding to slip through our fingers now. And frankly, that's what's happening. It's not going out the door. It's slipping through our fingers. So with that, I yield back. >> thank the gentleman. Any further discussion on the amendment? What purpose does the gentleman from louisiana seek to be recognized? >> Mr. chairman, I move to strike the last word.
▶ 1:37:09>> gentleman is recognized for five minutes to speak on the amendment. >> we're in this committee today considering legislation to cut red tape, streamline requirements and speed up connectivity projects. But the most significant delay in my home state of louisiana has been the trump administration's rewriting of policies for broadband deployment funds.
▶ 1:37:25I want to thank ranking member matsui for offering her amendment, which prevent the american broadband deployment act, from taking effect until the national telecommunications and information administration has released all $42 billion in funding for broadband access, equity and access, deployment, or bead program to states.
▶ 1:37:46This would ensure that ntia prioritizes getting bead funding out as soon as possible to states, including louisiana, and prevent any further delays from this happening. In january of this year, louisiana became the first state in the nation to secure federal funding for our plan to deploy $1.3 billion in seed funding. The state was ready to have shovels in the ground in march.
▶ 1:38:14Louisiana's plan was completed under republican governor jeff landry, who called this program a generational investment that will create thousands of jobs, drive billions in economic growth, and transform louisiana's communities. In all, 64 parishes.
▶ 1:38:33Louisiana's original plan included, among other things, using $100 million non deployment funds to improve access to telehealth in rural areas with limited nearby medical facilities. These funds would have been transformative for our state, especially now as the republican big ugly law will cause more rural hospitals and clinics to close.
▶ 1:39:00Unfortunately, the trump administration's overhaul of the program is upended. These these years of planning, forcing states like louisiana to scrap their work and to start all over again due to the administration's changes, the rural and underserved communities still waiting for reliable internet will be disproportionately harmed.
▶ 1:39:22These changes prioritize short term cost savings and the interest of elon musk over durable, future proof connectivity, leaving millions at risk of being locked into second tier technologies. Louisiana now faces new procedural hurdles and will further delay broadband expansion, forcing the state to wait again for federal approvals and hope the administration doesn't move the goalposts for this program.
▶ 1:39:52Again, the status of the state's non deployment funding for rural telehealth and workforce development is now in jeopardy, as well, as the state continues to wait for guidance from the administration, I urge my colleagues to vote yes and support this amendment.
▶ 1:40:09Ntia must prioritize getting all of the funding out to states immediately, saying that it's available and releasing it is two different things making sure that shovels in the ground and people are actually working are two different things. Mr. chairman and members, I implore you, please support this amendment. That makes good sense.
▶ 1:40:34That really puts people back to work and really does lessen the time to shorten the digital divide. And I yield back. >> thank the gentleman. Is there any further discussion on the amendment seeing not uh, since there's no further discussion, the vote occurs on the amendment. The gentlelady has requested a roll call vote. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. allen. Mr.
▶ 1:41:00Allen votes no. Mr. latta, Mr. latta votes no. Mr. griffith. Mr. griffith votes no. Mr. bilirakis. Mr. bilirakis votes no. Mr. carter, of georgia. Mr. dunn. Mr. dunn votes no. Mr. fulcher. Mr. fulcher votes no. Mr. pfluger. Mr. pfluger votes no. Mrs.
▶ 1:41:32Cammack. Mrs. cammack votes no. Mr. obernolte. Mr. obernolte votes no. Mrs. horton. Mrs. horton votes no. Mr. frey, Mr. frey votes no. Mr. caine. Mr. goldman, Mr. goldman votes no. Mrs. fedorchuk no. Mrs. fedorchuk votes no. Mr. guthrie.
▶ 1:42:03Miss. Matsui, miss matsui votes I, Mr. soto. Mr. soto, votes I miss clark, miss clark votes I Mr. ruiz. Mr. peters Mr. peters, votes I Mrs. dingle, Mrs. dingle, votes I miss kelly. Miss.
▶ 1:42:31Barragan, miss barragan, votes I Mr. carter, of louisiana. Mr. carter of louisiana votes I Mr. menendez. Mr. menendez votes I Mr. lansman. Mr. lansman votes I miss mcclellan. Miss mcclellan votes I miss castor. Miss castor votes I Mr. pallone. Mr. pallone votes I. Chairman. Hudson. >> no. >> chairman. Hudson votes no. >> how is Mr. ruiz recorded?
▶ 1:43:03>> Mr. ruiz is not recorded. Mr. ruiz votes I. >> Mr. carter recorded. >> Mr. carter of georgia is not recorded. Mr. carter of georgia votes. No. >> Mr. guthrie recorded. >> Mr. guthrie is not recorded. Mr. guthrie votes no. >> Mr. cain. >> Mr. cain is not recorded. Mr. cain votes no. >> anybody else? >> yes. >> you want to change? >> it is.
▶ 1:43:35>> Mr. >> this one's an easy one. The clerk will report the result. >> Mr. chairman, on that vote, there were 13 eyes and 17 noes. >> the amendment is not agreed to. Are there any further amendments? For what purpose does gentleman the jersey seek to be recognized? >> Mr. chairman, I have an amendment at the desk deemed oh one or underscore oh one.
▶ 1:44:06>> clerk will report the amendment. >> Mr. chairman, could the gentleman from new jersey please specify specify the amendment one more time? >> from what I have here it says deem d e m e d caps underscore oh one. >> amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to h.r. 2289. >> without objection, reading the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman is recognized for five minutes in support of the amendment.
▶ 1:44:37>> thank you, Mr. chairman. My amendment aims to ensure permitting agencies at the federal, state and local levels retain the authority to make decisions that best suit their needs and the needs of our communities. No matter where you go in this country, if you want to do any type of construction, you must first get relevant approvals from the local government. And whether you're building a house or school, or putting up utility poles or digging a trench to lay fiber, the local government has an important role to play, primarily to ensure the health and safety of the community.
▶ 1:45:07And that's why I'm troubled by provisions like these that enact narrow and arbitrary timeframes to approve or deny applications and then deem them granted. If a decision hasn't been made by that time. In other words, if a municipal board or town council is reviewing an application and does not issue an approval by a deadline set by the house of representatives, the applicant's proposal would automatically be deemed approved without any further input from the community.
▶ 1:45:33And I'm most concerned that these provisions will ultimately raise more questions than answers, especially when it comes to liability in the case of accidents on or near job sites. My colleagues like to demonize local governments for not approving construction applications as quickly as they'd like, but anyone who served at the local level knows there's a lot more to these decisions than a simple yes or no.
▶ 1:45:57No one thinks about who is responsible for ensuring there's ample police or fire department personnel scheduled for traffic duty during construction to maintain a safe environment for workers and community members alike, or the complexity of stacking or staggering certain construction projects to avoid disruptions or delays that can often occur. As a result, it's the mayors and councils and planning boards and zoning boards who are responsible for answering these questions, and they're the ones on the hook.
▶ 1:46:25If anything goes wrong or someone gets hurt. And those of us that work closely with our mayors and councils know that they're the biggest advocates when it comes to deploying communications infrastructure in their towns. What possible advantage would come from deliberately ignoring or delaying requests to improve services for their constituents?
▶ 1:46:43These automatic approval provisions not only put people at risk, they restrict the ability of a town's residents from participating in an open and transparent process about important decisions in the community. So I challenge each of my colleagues to tell their mayors and local officials about this bill and these provisions the next time they go home. I encourage you, as I know you would just well, I mean, obviously you would not get a positive response.
▶ 1:47:08So I'm asking you to support my amendment to strike these deemed granted provisions in the bill, and I yield back. Mr. chairman. >> thank you. Gentlemen. Chair recognizes himself for five minutes to speak on the amendment. Um, I'd just remind folks we waited three years for b deployment with no money going out the door. Today, 18 states plans have been approved. The money is moving.
▶ 1:47:30And with billions of dollars ready to go for broadband deployment, we have to provide accountability on agencies and certainty to providers whether or not they'll get their permits approved. Delays in the permitting process have the potential to ruin the success of connecting all americans, and we cannot risk this money getting wasted here. The democrats are seeking to strike deemed grant remedies created in this bill to ensure that state and local governments act within their review times.
▶ 1:47:59What's interesting is that some of the deemed grant remedies they're trying to strike were first enacted by democrats, deemed grant remedies are not new. One already exists when state and local governments fail to act on eligible facility requests within 60 days.
▶ 1:48:12This was enacted in a bipartisan rulemaking implemented by democrat fcc, then fcc commissioner rosenworcel and chairman wheeler both praised the rules as balancing the need for streamlining the permitting process for the next generation of wireless technology, while preserving state and local authority.
▶ 1:48:30Commissioner rosenworcel, speaking about the fcc order, said, and I quote, that's because the rules we put in place today are our first steps to encourage deployment of infrastructure that is absolutely critical for the next generation of wireless service, 5g chairman wheeler, speaking about the fcc order, said, quote, high speed mobile broadband also requires high speed broadband build out. However, the regulatory burdens associated with deployments can be expensive and time consuming.
▶ 1:48:57This order takes concrete steps to immediately and substantially ease those burdens. End quote. Mr. carter's amendment applies the same reasoning to other requests to deploy new fixed and mobile communications infrastructure. Mr. carter's amendment also broadens the deemed grants to apply to federal agencies, where it is necessary in order to ensure that the timeline requirements in the infrastructure law are met, and that billions of dollars are that are ready to be spent on deployment are not wasted.
▶ 1:49:26For that reason, I'll oppose this amendment and I'll encourage my colleagues to vote no. And with that, I yield back. Is there any further discussion on the amendment? >> I would ask for a roll call, Mr. chairman. >> okay. Uh, seeing that discussion is concluded, we will move directly to a vote. Roll call has been requested. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. allen. Mr. allen votes no. Mr. latta. Mr. lot of votes no, Mr. griffith. Mr.
▶ 1:49:56Griffith votes no. Mr. bilirakis. Mr. bilirakis votes no. Mr. carter of georgia. Mr. carter of georgia votes no. Mr. dunn. Mr. dunn votes no. Mr. fulcher. Mr. fulcher votes no. Mr. pfluger. Mr. pfluger votes no. Mrs. cammack, Mrs. kat cammack votes no. Mr. obernolte. Mr. obernolte votes no. Mrs. houchin. Mr. frey. Mr.
▶ 1:50:25Frey votes no. Mr. caine, Mr. kane votes no. Mr. goldman, Mr. goldman votes no. Mrs. fedorchuk. Mrs. fedorchuk votes no. Mr. guthrie. Mr. guthrie votes no. Miss matsui, miss matsui, votes aye Mr. soto. Mr. soto, votes I miss clark. Miss clark votes I, Mr. ruiz. Mr.
▶ 1:50:58Ruiz votes I, Mr. peters. Mr. peters votes I Mrs. dingle. Mrs. dingell votes I miss kelly. Mr. barragan, miss barragan, votes I Mr. carter, of louisiana. Mr. carter of louisiana votes I Mr. menendez. Mr. menendez votes I Mr. lansman. Mr. lansman votes I miss mcclellan. Miss mcclellan votes I miss castor. Miss castor votes I Mr. pallone. Mr.
▶ 1:51:31Pallone votes I. Chairman. Hudson, no. Chairman. Hudson votes no. >> house was recorded. >> Mrs. houchin is not recorded. Mrs. houchin votes. No. >> clerk will report the result. >> Mr. chairman, on that vote there were 13 eyes and 17 noes. >> amendment is not agreed to. Are there any further amendments?
▶ 1:52:00What purpose does gentlelady from virginia seek to be recognized? >> Mr. chairman, I have an amendment at the desk labeled assist underscore zero one. >> clerk will report the amendment. >> amendment to the amendment. In the nature. >> of. >> without objection, the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentlelady is recognized for five minutes in support of her amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:52:27This amendment would ensure that our state and local governments have the capacity and the federal support necessary to comply with this bill. Unfortunately, my republican colleagues just voted against removing the automatic approval provisions in the amendment we just considered. But perhaps this can be a compromise that helps our state and local partners to be able to comply with the bill. Otherwise, the bill just amounts to a set of unfunded mandates.
▶ 1:52:55Everyone on the committee wants to improve access to broadband by making common sense, permitting reforms, something we saw reflected in the bipartisan measures we adopted earlier today. However, this bill could do just the opposite by imposing strict short and shot clocks on state and local permitting authorities, which in most cases lack the staff or capacity to process applications at the speed required by this bill.
▶ 1:53:20As we discussed under the bill, if a local permitting authority is unable to complete its review within the shortened deadline, the application is automatically approved and the project can move forward without a thorough review, without proper coordination, and without meaningful community input.
▶ 1:53:37As we have heard from several witnesses in recent years, most of the areas that still need to be connected to broadband are rural communities, and many of these communities operate with extremely limited permitting personnel.
▶ 1:53:55These offices are also juggling reviews for transportation, utilities, housing, community development, economic development projects, and other critical infrastructure, and these localities now have additional burdens imposed on them from the big ugly bill that they need to deal with as well.
▶ 1:54:14By layering on a new, truncated deadline for broadband permits without any federal support, we will effectively force local governments to stretch their already strained resources even further. And so this amendment says if congress is going to impose expedited permitting requirements, we should also provide the necessary funding to that state and local government.
▶ 1:54:39So they're not put in an impossible situation where automatic approvals occur because they lack the resources to keep up, or they're much more likely to just reject the application outright rather than work to approve it and work on deficiencies to approve it. Let's not set our communities up for failure. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back. >> thank you.
▶ 1:55:06The chair will now recognize himself for five minutes to speak on the amendment. Um, listen, state and local governments have never had more money that they can use to be prepared for broadband deployment than they do right now. State and local governments across the country have received hundreds of billions of dollars over the last five years. For example, the infrastructure law provided states with millions of dollars in planning grants to prepare for administering the bead program. Every single state has received planning grants from ntia. Additionally, states have stood up broadband offices and hired the necessary staff.
▶ 1:55:36This amendment amendment simply requires state and local governments to respond to permitting requests in a timely manner. While there may be complicated cases that require more time to review, broadband providers work with local governments ahead of time ahead of submitting these applications to ensure their applications have a high likelihood of success. And so, uh, for that reason, I will oppose this amendment. Uh, thank you. Uh, is there any further discussion on the amendment?
▶ 1:56:03There's no further discussion. The vote occurs on the amendment. Recorded. Recorded vote has been requested. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. allen, Mr. allen votes no. Mr. latta. Mr. lot of votes no. Mr. griffith. Mr. griffith votes no. Mr. bilirakis. Mr. bilirakis votes no. Mr.
▶ 1:56:32Carter, of georgia. Mr. dunn. Mr. dunn votes no. Mr. fulcher. Mr. fulcher votes no. Mr. pflueger, Mr. pflueger votes no. Mrs. kat cammack. Mrs. kat cammack votes no. Mr. obernolte. Mr. obernolte votes no. Mrs. houchin. Mr. frey. Mr. frey votes no. Mr. cain. Mr. cain votes no. Mr. goldman, Mr.
▶ 1:57:03Goldman votes no. Mrs. fedorchuk. Mr. fedorchuk votes no. Mr. guthrie, Mr. guthrie votes no. Miss matsui, Mr. matsui votes I Mr. soto. Mr. soto votes I miss clark. Miss clark votes I Mr. ruiz. Mr. ruiz votes I Mr. peters. Mr. peters votes I Mrs. dingle. Mrs. dingle votes I miss kelly.
▶ 1:57:34Mr. barragan, miss barragan votes I Mr. carter, of louisiana. Mr. carter of louisiana votes I Mr. menendez. Mr. menendez votes I Mr. lansman. Mr. lansman votes I miss mcclellan. Miss mcclellan votes I miss castor. Mrs. castor votes I Mr. pallone. Mr. pallone votes I. Chairman. Hudson, no. Chairman. Hudson votes no. >> recorded. >> miss hopkins not recorded.
▶ 1:58:05Zach nunn votes no. >> Mr. carter recorded. >> Mr. carter of georgia is not recorded. Mr. carter of georgia votes. No. >> Mr. cain recorded. >> Mr. cain is recorded as no. >> all right. The clerk will report the result. >> Mr. chairman, on that vote there were 13 eyes and 17 noes. >> the amendment is not agreed to. Are there any further amendments? For what purpose?
▶ 1:58:34The gentleman from california seek recognition. >> Mr. chairman, I have an amendment to the ains at the desk labeled tbc funds 101. >> clerk will report the amendment. >> amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute
▶ 1:59:05To h.r. 2289 strike. Title three. Add at the end the following. >> without objection, the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman is recognized for five minutes in support of his amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Today I offer an amendment grounded in two core principles fairness and respect for tribal sovereignty.
▶ 1:59:21My amendment would ensure that grant funding promised to tribal nations under the tribal broadband connectivity program is distributed in full by the national telecommunications and information administration, ntia, before the provisions in this bill may take effect across our country, tribal nations have long faced systemic barriers to resources that are essential for their communities to thrive.
▶ 1:59:45This became especially apparent during the covid pandemic, prompting congress to establish the tribal broadband connectivity program. Over recent years, ntia awarded this critical funding to tribes to close the digital divide, but too much of this funding has not been allocated for too many tribal communities. The promise of federal support is still just that, a promise.
▶ 2:00:09Adding to the concern, just last week, ntia announced new guidance for tribal broadband connectivity program, pausing the remaining grants until the broadband equity access deployment program or beads plan are approved and underway. This delay is unacceptable, but making matters worse is ntia intention to hold the funding hostage until tribes give their consent to beads plans, whether they support them or not.
▶ 2:00:38The reality is, tribal nations have been left out of many of the deliberations around bead in the last year, so they rightfully have questions and concerns about how bead will support connectivity on tribal lands.
▶ 2:00:54We should call this out for what it is an attempt by the trump administration to coerce tribal nations to give consent in the bead program to deployment plans they might otherwise reject, to access the funding they were promised. This is direct threat to tribal autonomy. Tribal governments have the sovereign right to make decisions about infrastructure on their lands.
▶ 2:01:21Federal mandates cannot override that authority, and we must not forget many of the provisions in the permitting bills being considered today would allow exemptions to the national historic preservation act, putting tribal history, cultural sites and sacred lands further at risk. Streamlining may be important, but it cannot come at the cost of erasing history and undermining tribal sovereignty. This amendment is not about slowing progress.
▶ 2:01:47It is about ensuring that progress is just, equitable and respectful. It ensures that tribal communities receive the resources promised to them, and that they retain the authority to chart their own development process. Today, alongside senator schiff, I introduced the tribal internet expansion act of 2025, which explicitly, explicitly recognizes tribal nations as high cost areas, securing them a place in broadband expansion efforts.
▶ 2:02:16My amendment complements that work by ensuring that funding is delivered, and that tribal voices and priorities are respected. Tribal sovereignty is not just a legal concept, it is a matter of fairness, justice and respect for the nation to nation relationship that defines our country. We cannot move forward with legislation that impacts tribal lands while leaving tribal communities underfunded or stripping them of their authority to to decide their own future. I yield back.
▶ 2:02:48>> thank you gentlemen. The chair now recognizes himself for five minutes to speak on the amendment. Uh, I appreciate my colleagues introducing this amendment. I appreciate him elevating the issue of tribal lands. Uh, my state, like your state, has a rich tribal history, and we're proud of that. And, uh, and so the issue you raise is important. Um, but what what's important to understand here is that we're not eliminating all these review processes. What we're doing is streamlining these processes so they're not duplicative.
▶ 2:03:17And, uh, and look, the folks in tribal lands need access to broadband just as much as anywhere else. And these permitting delays are significant barrier to broadband deployment, in some instances, taking multiple months or even years to complete and costing millions of extra dollars. Uh, this provision would cut the needed permitting reforms and further prolonged the digital divide. And so for that reason, I'm going to urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Any further discussion on the amendment? There's no further discussion.
▶ 2:03:47The vote occurs on the amendment. A roll call has been requested. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. allen, Mr. allen votes no. Mr. latta, Mr. latta votes no. Mr. griffith, Mr. griffith votes no. Mr. bilirakis. Mr. carter of georgia. Mr. carter of georgia votes no. Mr. dunn, Mr. dunn votes no. Mr. fulcher.
▶ 2:04:19Mr. pfluger. Mr. pfluger votes no. Mrs. kat cammack. Mrs. kat cammack votes no. Mr. obernolte. Mr. obernolte votes no. Mrs. houchin. Mr. frey. Mr. frey votes no. Mr. cain. Mr. cain votes no. Mr. goldman, Mr.
▶ 2:04:51Goldman votes no. Mrs. fedorchuk. Mrs. fedorchuk votes no. Mr. guthrie, Mr. guthrie votes no. Miss matsui, miss matsui votes aye. Mr. soto. Mr. soto, votes I miss clark. Miss clark votes I Mr. ruiz. Mr. ruiz votes I Mr. peters. Mr. peters votes I, Mrs. dingle.
▶ 2:05:21Mrs. dingell votes I miss kelly. Miss. Barragan votes I Mr. carter, of louisiana. Mr. menendez Mr. menendez votes I Mr. lansman. Mr. lansman votes I miss mcclellan. Miss mcclellan votes I miss kaster. Miss castor votes I Mr. pallone. Mr. pallone votes I. Chairman. Hudson, chairman.
▶ 2:05:51Hudson votes no. >> as Mr. bilirakis recorded. >> Mr. bilirakis is not recorded. Mr. bilirakis votes no. >> Mr. fulcher how are you recording? >> Mr. fulcher votes no. >> miss hudson how are you recording? >> Mrs. houchin votes no. >> okay. >> uh, the clerk will report the result.
▶ 2:06:24>> Mr. chairman, on that vote, there were 12 eyes and 17 noes. >> okay. The amendment is not agreed to. Are there any further amendments? >> Mr. chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. >> uh. >> for what purpose? >> uh. >> which amendment? >> amendment d4. >> okay. >> all right. Uh, chair, the clerk will report the amendment.
▶ 2:06:54>> amendment to the amendment. In the nature of a substitute to h.r. 2289, page 35. After line ten, insert the following and redesignated. >> an objection. The reading of the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentlelady is recognized for five minutes in support of the amendment. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. My amendment recognizes the access to reliable, high speed internet is essential in our increasingly digital society.
▶ 2:07:21It seeks to balance the benefits the majority is attempting to hand out to providers with obligations to ensure that no community, no family is left behind when infrastructure is being deployed.
▶ 2:07:34And I want to make very clear at the outset of my remarks, despite what you hear from my republican colleagues, the group of partizan bills considered today will do very little, if anything, to encourage broadband infrastructure investment and deployment, particularly as the current administration has systematically dismantled historic, bipartisan legislative efforts to close the digital divide.
▶ 2:08:00In fact, when all is said and done, I'm confident that this administration, with the approval of my republican colleagues, will have done more to actively worsen the digital divide than any previous administration from delaying the kneecapping the bead program and attacking affordable efforts to illegally withholding digital equity act funding and tribal connectivity dollars.
▶ 2:08:29Republicans seem to be on a mission to make sure that some communities stay offline, maybe for good. Talking about these meager permit permitting ideas at this moment in time is an insufficient is as insufficient as holding up a cocktail umbrella in the middle of a hurricane.
▶ 2:08:50However, turning to my amendment, I believe efforts to streamline broadband deployment should be balanced with our desire to ensure that low income and minority communities who have been subjected to both traditional and digital redlining in the past, do not continue to be left behind.
▶ 2:09:07The truth is that many of the communities that were impacted by redlining decades ago, who were discriminated against when seeking to apply for mortgage loans, continue to suffer with inferior infrastructure and services today, including broadband, and many will face a form of redlining once again as their b dollars will be shifted from real fiber infrastructure to untested satellite service.
▶ 2:09:39Unfortunately, I've heard clearly in hearings over the years from our expert witnesses that previous deregulatory efforts did nothing to mitigate the digital redlining we see today. In fact, they may have made it worse.
▶ 2:09:54Instead, previous efforts, quote, streamline unquote, simply allow providers to perpetuate historic discrimination against certain communities while facilitating build out to wealthier communities where they could make more money. My amendment would ensure that this current round of, quote, streamlining, end quote, doesn't become yet another giveaway to providers seeking to pad their bottom line.
▶ 2:10:25Instead, my amendment would allow providers to take advantage of the streamlined process that the majority is proposing, but only if they commit to serving every household in the jurisdiction that is granting their permit. This would help urban, rural, and suburban communities. Without such an obligation, history is doomed to repeat itself and certain communities will remain disconnected.
▶ 2:10:50As such, our goals of getting affordable, reliable broadband to every area of this community, goals that my colleagues across the aisle purport to share will be perpetually frustrated. In theory, I do not oppose working with my colleagues on this committee to explore pathways to equitable, streamlined permitting processes and bridge the digital divide.
▶ 2:11:15So I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I thank you and I yield back. >> uh, the chair recognizes himself for five minutes in opposition to the amendment. Um, I appreciate the gentlelady's, uh, offer to work together, but we've been we've been working this for some time. If democrats wanted to have a conversation about serving unserved areas, we would have welcomed it.
▶ 2:11:44Unfortunately, this amendment is poorly drafted. Rather than double down on encouraging investment so that all americans can be served, this amendment could have the opposite effect. This amendment could also lead to less competition in the marketplace. If one provider is required to serve all locations, even if another provider could serve some locations more efficiently. I urge a no vote on this amendment and I yield back. Are there any other comments on the amendment?
▶ 2:12:10Uh, hearing? None. Um, uh, you want to roll call? Okay. All right. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. allen. >> uh, no. >> Mr. allen votes no. Mr. latta. Mr. latta votes no. Mr. griffith. Mr. griffith votes no.
▶ 2:12:43Mr. bilirakis. Mr. carter of georgia. Mr. dunn. Mr. fulcher. Mr. fulcher votes no. Mr. pfluger. Mr. pfluger votes no. Mrs. kat cammack. Mrs. kat cammack votes no. Mr. obernolte.
▶ 2:13:14Mr. obernolte votes no. Mrs. houchin. Mr. frey. Mr. cain. Mr. cain votes no. Mr. goldman, Mr. goldman votes no. Mrs. fedorchuk. Mrs. fedorchuk votes no. Mr. guthrie, Mr. guthrie votes no. Miss matsui, Mr. matsui votes aye. Mr. soto. Mr.
▶ 2:13:47Soto votes I, miss clark. Miss clark votes I miss ruiz. Mr. ruiz votes I Mr. peters. Mr. peters votes I Mrs. dingle. Mrs. dingell votes I miss kelly. Miss pentagon votes I Mr. carter, of louisiana. Mr. menendez Mr. menendez votes I Mr. lansman. Mr. lansman votes I miss mcclellan. Miss mcclellan votes I miss castor.
▶ 2:14:20Castor votes I Mr. pallone. Mr. pallone votes I chairman hudson. >> has Mr. dunn recorded. >> Mr. dunn is not recorded. Mr. dunn votes no. >> Mr. bilirakis has Mr. bilirakis recorded. >> Mr. bilirakis votes no. >> Mrs. >> horton. Mrs. horton votes no.
▶ 2:15:00>> anybody else seek recognition okay. The clerk will report the result. >> Mr. chairman, on that vote there were 12 ayes and 14 noes. >> um. >> I'm sorry, we've already closed the vote, Mr. carter.
▶ 2:15:31>> okay. >> all right. The clerk okay. The amendment is not agreed to or there are further amendments. That's it. >> okay. The amendment in the nature of the substitute. >> so now do we have one vote on the. Okay. >> yes. Okay. >> so those in favor please say aye.
▶ 2:15:58And this is on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. So again all those in favor say aye. All those opposed. No, no. In the opinion of the chair the ayes have it. And the, the uh amendment uh. >> is agreed. >> to the amendment is agreed to. The question now occurs on adopting h.r. 2289 as amended.
▶ 2:16:31All those in favor say aye. Roll call. Okay. Roll call. Vote has been requested. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. allen. >> aye. >> Mr. allen votes aye, Mr. latta. Mr. griffith. Mr. griffith votes aye. Mr.
▶ 2:17:03Bilirakis. Mr. bilirakis votes aye. Mr. carter of georgia, Mr. carter of georgia votes I. Mr. dunn. Mr. dunn votes aye. Mr. fulcher. Mr. fulcher votes I. Mr. pfluger. Mr. pfluger votes I. Mrs. kat cammack. Mrs. kat cammack votes I. Mr. obernolte. Mr. obernolte votes I. Mrs.
▶ 2:17:35Houchin. Mr. frey. Mr. cain. Mr. cain votes I Mr. goldman. Mr. goldman votes I Mrs. fedorchuk. Mrs. fedorchuk votes I Mr. guthrie. Mr. guthrie votes I miss matsui miss matsui votes no. Mr. soto. Mr.
▶ 2:18:02Soto votes no. Miss clark. Miss clark votes no. Mr. ruiz, Mr. ruiz votes no. Mr. peters, Mr. peters votes no. Mrs. dingle, Mrs. dingle votes no. Mrs. kelly. Miss. Miss. Madigan votes no. Mr. carter, of louisiana. Mr. menendez Mr.
▶ 2:18:32Menendez votes no. Mr. landsman. Mr. landsman votes no. Miss mcclellan, miss mcclellan votes no. Miss kaster, miss kaster votes no. Mr. pallone, Mr. pallone votes no. Chairman. Hudson. >> as Mr. latta recorded. >> Mr. latta votes I.
▶ 2:19:02>> miss hopkin, has miss howchin recorded? >> Mr. howchin is not recorded. Mrs. howchin votes I. >> has Mr. fry recorded. >> Mr. fry is not recorded. I Mr. fry votes I. >> okay. Yes. >> as Mr. >> okay has Mr. >> recorded Mr. soto is recorded as no. >> okay anybody.
▶ 2:19:32Else I can't read your name. Down okay. The clerk will report. The clerk will call the roll. He just called. >> the votes. >> will report. >> Mr. chairman, on that vote. There were 16 eyes and 12 no's. >> okay. The ayes have it. The bill is adopted and forwarded to the full committee.
▶ 2:20:03>> yes. >> okay. Without objection, staff is authorized to make technical and conforming changes to the legislation approved by the committee today. So ordered. Chair. Without objection, the committee stands adjourned.