Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX)
Broadband Incentives for Communities Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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
The "Broadband Incentives for Communities Act" directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to create a competitive grant program for local governments. These grants aim to help local governments efficiently review and approve zoning and permitting applications for broadband infrastructure. Eligible entities must implement efficient processes and reasonable fee structures to qualify. Funds can be used for hiring, training, and purchasing technology. Additionally, the bill establishes a Local Broadband Advisory Council to find solutions for deployment challenges.
Yes· 3 of 32
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Directly addresses the digital divide in underserved rural communities.
- Scored +8
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The core purpose of the bill is to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Explicitly aims to expand connections to underserved low-income communities.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Local governments must adopt specific federal-incentivized policies to qualify for funding.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes appropriations for a new grant program, which may increase government spending.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill creates a new expenditure for competitive grants to local governments.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Faster Broadband Deployment: By providing grants to help local governments with "efficient review and approval of zoning and permitting applications," the bill seeks to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure (Section 3(a)).
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Support for Underserved Areas: The bill references the need to expand broadband connections to "underserved rural communities and underserved low-income communities" (Section 2(1)) and focuses on finding solutions for "unserved and underserved communities" (Section 4(a)).
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Lowering Costs for Infrastructure: Eligible local governments must limit certain application fees to the "actual, objectively reasonable costs" incurred to process the application (Section 3(b)(2)(C)(i)).
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Improved Local Government Capacity: Grants can be used for "employee training and hiring" and the "purchase of technology, software, and equipment" to better handle application processing (Section 3(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Competitive Nature of Funding: Because the grant program is established on a "competitive basis," some local governments may not receive the funding they need to improve their broadband permitting processes (Section 3(a)).
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Requirements for Grant Eligibility: Local governments must adopt specific "written policies, ordinances, or guidance," such as those allowing "micro-trenching," to be eligible for funds (Section 3(b)(2)(B)).
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 people in rural areas be better off under this? — Directly addresses the digital divide in underserved rural communities. Would farmers be better off under this? — Rural broadband expansion is critical for modern agricultural operations. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Explicitly aims to expand connections to underserved low-income communities. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Indian Tribes are specifically listed as eligible covered entities for grants. Would students be better off under this? — Increased broadband access is essential for modern learning and research. Would business owners be better off under this? — Reduced permitting hurdles and better infrastructure facilitate business expansion. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Targets underserved low-income communities which disproportionately include minority populations. Would children be better off under this? — Improved broadband access supports educational opportunities for students. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Targets underserved low-income communities which disproportionately include minority populations. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Better connectivity supports economic productivity and services. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Improved internet access increases access to digital services and telehealth. Would retired people be better off under this? — Facilitates telehealth and digital communication. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Broadband expansion facilitates telehealth and social connectivity for seniors. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Better connectivity supports remote work and education. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — General infrastructure improvement benefits all groups. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — General improvement in internet infrastructure benefits most households. Would union members be better off under this? — Broadband infrastructure deployment creates construction and installation jobs. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Improves 5G and fiber deployment in urban environments. Would white Americans be better off under this? — General infrastructure improvement benefits all groups. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Broadband improvements generally benefit all users, though less critical for high-income groups.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The core purpose of the bill is to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Faster broadband deployment generally stimulates economic activity and productivity. Is this likely to create jobs? — Grants allow local governments to fund employee hiring for broadband permitting processes. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Improved internet access generally benefits small business operations and reach. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill creates a new expenditure for competitive grants to local governments. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes appropriations for a new grant program, which may increase government spending.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill explicitly targets the expansion of broadband in underserved rural communities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increased connectivity in low-income areas provides better access to economic and educational opportunities. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill specifically targets broadband expansion for underserved low-income communities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires local governments to publish application fees in advance. Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — Improved digital infrastructure facilitates better commerce across state lines. Does this give the federal government more power? — The federal government uses grant incentives to influence local zoning and permitting policies. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Local governments must adopt specific federal-incentivized policies to qualify for funding.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Broadband expansion supports telehealth, especially in rural and underserved areas. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Expanded broadband facilitates telehealth services, improving access to mental health care.
- 3/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/21/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House
Ed CaseDemocrat · Hawaii