Evans’ Broadband Bill Passes House, Marks Fifth Bipartisan Win
WASHINGTON — On Monday, Representative Gabe Evans’ bipartisan Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act passed the House with near unanimous support. The bill streamlines federal permitting and accelerates the deployment of high-speed internet infrastructure on federally managed lands.
In states like Colorado, where large portions of land are federally managed, complex and slow federal approval processes have delayed broadband expansion—leaving rural communities without reliable internet access. This legislation addresses those delays while delivering solutions that will benefit communities across the country.
"Far too often, overburdensome federal regulations delay critical infrastructure projects—leaving rural communities behind. The Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act cuts through that red tape, speeds up approvals on federal lands, and helps ensure families and small businesses can access reliable, high-speed internet. I am proud to lead on this commonsense, bipartisan permitting reform legislation, and am thrilled to deliver this win for rural communities across Colorado and the country.” –– Congressman Gabe Evans
The Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act establishes a coordinated effort to improve how federal agencies review broadband projects on public lands. Specifically, the bill creates an interagency “strike force” made up of key federal land management agencies, including the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This strike force is tasked with ensuring agencies prioritize broadband permitting requests, set clear and measurable review timelines, and improve coordination across federal offices that oversee public lands. It will also monitor agency performance and hold agencies accountable for meeting those timelines—helping prevent unnecessary delays that have historically slowed infrastructure projects.
The bill focuses on speeding up approvals for “communications use authorizations,” including easements, leases, and rights-of-way needed to build broadband infrastructure such as towers and fiber lines on federal land. By improving efficiency and accountability in this process, the legislation will help expand high-speed internet access to rural and underserved communities more quickly.
Background:
The Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act:
Establishes an interagency strike force to coordinate and prioritize broadband permitting across federal land management agencies
Requires agencies to set clear goals and timelines for reviewing broadband project applications
Improves accountability by monitoring agency performance and reporting progress to Congress
Speeds up approvals for broadband infrastructure on public lands, including National Forest System land
Helps expand reliable, high-speed internet access to rural and underserved communities in Colorado and across the nation