North Cook News

Congressmen Brett Guthrie and Richard Hudson have announced a hearing titled "Examining Solutions to Expedite Broadband Permitting." The event is scheduled for September 18, 2025, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. It aims to address issues related to broadband permitting that have hindered connectivity for many Americans.

Guthrie and Hudson emphasized the need to streamline the permitting process to facilitate faster deployment of broadband services, particularly in underserved rural areas. "Streamlining the broadband permitting process will help expedite deployment," they said. The hearing will explore various legislative proposals aimed at improving access to reliable broadband.

The session will review several bills, including H.R.278, the "BROADBAND Leadership Act," and H.R.339, the "Broadband Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act." Other bills under consideration focus on tracking federal broadband deployment, enhancing wireless competition, and ensuring resiliency in communications infrastructure.

Drew Garner from the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society testified before the House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology about challenges related to broadband permitting under the BEAD Program. Garner highlighted that while BEAD's $42.45 billion investment seeks to connect unserved communities, it also strains permitting authorities. He noted that slow permitting delays deployment and rushed processes could compromise safety.

Garner recommended solutions such as increased staffing and standardization but pointed out these require funding. He expressed concerns over NTIA's restructuring of BEAD plans which now favor satellite over fiber despite fiber's benefits in reliability and affordability.

The hearing will be open to both public and press with a live stream available online at energycommerce.house.gov.

For further inquiries regarding the hearing or press-related questions, contact Noah Jackson or Daniel Kelly respectively via their provided email addresses.

Information from this article can be found here.