The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 26-24 along party lines Wednesday to advance a bill to overhaul the broadband permitting system.
The permitting bill would set deadlines for state and local governments to approve or deny certain projects, including personal wireless facilities and telecommunications service facilities, after which the projects would be deemed approved. The bill also would set rules for what fees can be charged for permitting applications. It would similarly set deadlines for the approval of requests related to cable franchises.
The bill also would exempt certain connectivity projects, including those in public rights of way or where easements have already been granted for communications facilities, as well as those in floodplains or brownfield sites, from certain reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
