Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
This bill amends the BEAD program rules in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It conditions BEAD grant eligibility on states and their political subdivisions only charging certain broadband-related fees if those fees are neutral, publicly disclosed, cost-based, objectively reasonable, and clearly described (distinguishing recurring versus nonrecurring fees and whether broadband already exists).
Liberals emphasize deployment acceleration and equity benefits
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a targeted substantive amendment that establishes concrete standards for permissible municipal/state fees as a condition for BEAD grant eligibility.
This bill amends the BEAD program rules in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
It conditions BEAD grant eligibility on states and their political subdivisions only charging certain broadband-related fees if those fees are neutral, publicly disclosed, cost-based, objectively reasonable, and clearly described (distinguishing recurring versus nonrecurring fees and whether broadband already exists).
The provision does not apply to grant funds under paragraph (1)(C).
Technocratic, limited-scope change with bipartisan appeal but local fiscal resistance and Senate procedural barriers reduce odds.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a targeted substantive amendment that establishes concrete standards for permissible municipal/state fees as a condition for BEAD grant eligibility. It defines several material constraints on fee design and disclosure but leaves many implementation details, definitions, enforcement mechanisms, and fiscal implications unspecified.
Liberals emphasize deployment acceleration and equity benefits
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberals emphasize deployment acceleration and equity benefits
Likely supportive because the bill reduces financial and administrative barriers to broadband deployment and promotes transparency.
It aligns with goals to accelerate equitable broadband access, especially in underserved areas.
Cautiously favorable: it targets real obstacles to broadband rollout while imposing reasonable conditions on fees.
Concerns focus on implementation detail, administrative burden, and preserving legitimate local cost recovery.
Likely opposed or skeptical because it conditions federal grant funds on states' fee policies, potentially overriding local control and reducing municipal revenue.
Sees this as federal overreach into local governance.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Technocratic, limited-scope change with bipartisan appeal but local fiscal resistance and Senate procedural barriers reduce odds.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberals emphasize deployment acceleration and equity benefits
Technocratic, limited-scope change with bipartisan appeal but local fiscal resistance and Senate procedural barriers reduce odds.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a targeted substantive amendment that establishes concrete standards for permissible municipal/state fees as a condition for BEAD grant eligibility. It defines sev…
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