On October 19, 2017, Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Catherine Cortez (D-NV) introduced the Streamlining Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2017 (SPEED Act), which would expedite federal permitting processes for the deployment of next-generation broadband technologies. Specifically, the bill would exempt from environmental and historic reviews currently required by the FCC and other federal agencies for proposed broadband deployment in public rights-of-way areas. This regulatory relief would promote the expansion of broadband access in rural and underserved areas.
The introduction of this legislation was praised by FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly who said: "This bipartisan effort to ease and accelerate the deployment of broadband technology would put an end to some of the excessive delays industry experiences when siting facilities." Moreover, Kelly Cole, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at CTIA, stated: “This legislation will streamline the federal regulatory review process for wireless infrastructure and pave the way for significant investment in next-generation 5G wireless. Quick passage of this legislation will improve access to jobs, education and healthcare for Americans in rural and urban communities in Mississippi and Nevada, and across the country.” (See October 20 edition of TRDaily.)
Unnecessary regulations impede efforts to expand broadband deployment and negatively impact broadband investment. We commend Senators Wicker and Cortez for their bipartisan effort to remove unnecessary federal regulations and to promote broadband deployment in underserved areas, creating access for Americans on the wrong side of the digital divide.
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