A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Broadband Expansion And Deployment Fee Equity and Efficiency Act of 2025," seeks to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It aims to require States and their political subdivisions to streamline certain fees related to broadband infrastructure. To receive grant funds under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, these entities must follow specific fee guidelines. The bill limits the types of fees that can be charged for authorizing or using rights-of-way for broadband service. This is intended to ensure fees are based on actual, reasonable, and direct costs.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The bill directly facilitates the expansion of broadband infrastructure by regulating and streamlining associated fees.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Broadband providers benefit from streamlined, predictable, and reasonable infrastructure fees.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill promotes broadband expansion, which is critical for connectivity in rural areas.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill restricts the autonomy of states and political subdivisions regarding how they charge fees for broadband infrastructure.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Requirement for Fair Fees: The bill ensures that any fees charged for broadband infrastructure requests must be competitively neutral, technology neutral, and nondiscriminatory (Section 2). This could prevent certain providers from being unfairly targeted or disadvantaged.
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Cost Transparency: Entities must publicly disclose their fees (Section 2). This allows for greater transparency regarding how much people or companies are being charged for infrastructure access.
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Prevention of Excessive Charges: Fees must be calculated based on actual and direct costs and must use only costs that are objectively reasonable (Section 2). This protects against entities charging arbitrary or inflated prices for the review, processing, or repair of infrastructure.
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Clear Fee Structures: The bill requires that fees distinguish between nonrecurring fees and recurring fees, as well as the use of existing infrastructure versus new locations (Section 2). This provides clarity for those requesting to place or modify broadband services.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Risk to Funding for Localities: If a State or a political subdivision does not comply with these specific fee requirements, the Assistant Secretary may not make available grant funds under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (Section 2). This could result in a loss of grant money for the community.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Broadband providers benefit from streamlined, predictable, and reasonable infrastructure fees. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill promotes broadband expansion, which is critical for connectivity in rural areas. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improving broadband access can help low-income households access essential services and opportunities.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill directly facilitates the expansion of broadband infrastructure by regulating and streamlining associated fees.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires that broadband infrastructure fees be publicly disclosed by the charging entities. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal oversight by tying the receipt of BEAD grant funds to compliance with new fee structures. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill restricts the autonomy of states and political subdivisions regarding how they charge fees for broadband infrastructure.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — By streamlining broadband deployment fees, the bill facilitates better digital connectivity in rural areas.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Standardizing and limiting broadband infrastructure fees can indirectly protect consumers by lowering barriers to service deployment.
- 3/10/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House