Earl Carter (R-GA)
American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 14 Republican cosponsors · See all 14 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 532.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 aims to speed up the deployment of communications facilities by streamlining permitting and regulatory reviews. It modifies existing laws to reduce barriers for personal wireless service and telecommunications service facilities. The bill establishes specific timeframes for state and local governments to approve or deny requests. It also introduces "deemed granted" rules, where requests are automatically approved if a decision is not made within a set period. Additionally, it addresses rules for cable franchises and provides exemptions for certain environmental and historical preservation reviews.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The bill expedites the deployment of wireless and telecommunications service facilities.
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill reduces regulatory hurdles and administrative delays for telecommunications companies.
- Scored +5
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill reduces regulatory barriers and sets strict timeframes for the deployment of communications service facilities.
The opposite
- Scored -6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill exempts certain communications projects from National Environmental Policy Act reviews.
- Scored -5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill creates a presumption that Indian Tribes have disclaimed interest in certain communications projects if they do not act within 45 days.
- Scored -4
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill limits the ability of state and local governments to regulate or prohibit service improvements through 'deemed granted' rules.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Faster Deployment of Wireless Services: The bill sets specific deadlines for state and local governments to act on requests for personal wireless service facilities, which includes 60 days for small facilities using existing structures (Sec. 101.A.iii.1.bb.AA).
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Reduced Regulatory Hurdies for Telecommunications: It prohibits local regulations from effectively prohibiting the provision, improvement, or enhancement of personal wireless service (Sec. 101.A.ii.B.i.II).
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Streamlined Telecommunications Infrastructure: The bill establishes timeframes for telecommunications service facilities, requiring decisions within 90 days for those on eligible support infrastructure (Sec. 102.B.2.A.i).
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Increased Competition in Cable Services: Cable operators may obtain the elimination or modification of franchise requirements more easily if they demonstrate good cause (Sec. 203.A.b).
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Efficiency in Federal Processes: The bill introduces a "deemed granted" rule for Federal easements, rights-of-way, and leases to ensure applications are processed timely (Sec. 401.A.5.A).
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Exemptions from Certain Reviews: Certain communications projects are exempted from being considered major Federal actions under NEPA or undertakings under the National Historic Preservation Act (Sec. 301.A).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of Local Control: While the bill states it preserves local zoning authority, it limits the ability of local governments to prohibit or prohibit the effect of prohibiting service improvements (Sec. 101.A.ii.B.i).
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Mandatory Approval via Inaction: The "deemed granted" provision means that if a local government fails to act within the timeframe, the request is automatically considered authorized (Sec. 101.A.iv; Sec. 102.B.3.A; Sec. 202.B.2.Cii).
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Reduction in Environmental and Historical Oversight: The bill provides exemptions for certain projects from environmental (NEPA) and historical (NHPA) preservation reviews (Sec. s 301.A and 301.B).
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Presumption Against Tribal Interest: For certain projects, an Indian Tribe may be presumed to have disclaimed interest if they have not acted on a complete FCC form within 45 days (Sec. 302.A).
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? — The bill reduces regulatory hurdles and administrative delays for telecommunications companies. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Reducing barriers to entry helps expand service availability in rural markets. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Increased competition and faster deployment benefit all consumer service levels. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Faster broadband and wireless deployment can improve connectivity for low-income areas. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Faster deployment of telecommunications services benefits general household connectivity. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Streamlined infrastructure deployment can improve connectivity in urban environments. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill creates a presumption that Indian Tribes have disclaimed interest in certain communications projects if they do not act within 45 days.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill expedites the deployment of wireless and telecommunications service facilities.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill reduces regulatory barriers and sets strict timeframes for the deployment of communications service facilities.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — Streamlined communication infrastructure can benefit modern smart transit systems. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill exempts certain communications projects from National Environmental Policy Act reviews.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill limits the ability of state and local governments to regulate or prohibit service improvements through 'deemed granted' rules.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — Increased telecommunications infrastructure may indirectly support residential connectivity.
- 4/15/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-614, Part I.
- Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 532.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- 4/14/2026
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- 12/3/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 24.
- 11/18/2025
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 12.
- 3/24/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
- Introduced in House
Rick AllenRepublican · Georgia
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Troy BaldersonRepublican · Ohio
Dan CrenshawRepublican · Texas
Neal DunnRepublican · Florida
Russell FryRepublican · South Carolina
H. GriffithRepublican · Virginia
Craig GoldmanRepublican · Texas
Diana HarshbargerRepublican · Tennessee
Erin HouchinRepublican · Indiana
John JoyceRepublican · Pennsylvania
Robert LattaRepublican · Ohio
Jay ObernolteRepublican · California
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas