John Thune (R-SD)
Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 691.
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
This bill is known as the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026. It requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to create a public dashboard to track spending and broadband progress under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The bill directs the Assistant Secretary to create a tool to help entities track and monitor Federal permit requirements and progress for subgrantees. It also requires the Assistant Secretary to develop data controls and methods to help executive agencies track, analyze, address, and report on delays in processing communications use applications. Additionally, the legislation updates the FAST Act to include certain broadband infrastructure projects requiring an investment of more than $5,000,000 that are subject to NEPA.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill's focus on broadband deployment is critical for expanding high-speed internet access in rural areas.
- Scored +5
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The bill aims to speed up broadband deployment by improving the oversight and tracking of permit requirements and application processing times.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates a public dashboard to track the progress and expenditures of broadband grant recipients.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
How the text last changed
Reported to Senate (11/9/2026), compared with Introduced in Senate. Each change is on the Text tab.
Only the wording changed; what the bill would do is the same.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Public Accountability via Progress Dashboards: Under Section 2, the bill requires the creation of a public website dashboard that tracks the progress of grant recipients, including expended grant funds and the number of locations where broadband service has been made available. This is positive because it holds officials and grant recipients accountable by letting everyday people see how taxpayer money is being spent and whether broadband is actually being built.
- Permit Tracking Tools: Section 2 requires the creation of a tool to help eligible entities identify the status of Federal permit requirements and monitor subgrantees' progress toward obtaining those permits. This could benefit people by streamlining the setup process and cutting down on bureaucratic red tape that delays broadband expansion.
- Faster Processing of Applications: Section 3 requires the Assistant Secretary to develop data controls, analyze delay factors, and establish a method to alert agency staff when applications are at risk of missing the 270-day processing deadline. This is beneficial because it pushes executive agencies to process communications applications faster, helping people get connected to vital services without unnecessary government stalling.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the provided text, there are no explicit provisions that detail negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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? — The bill's focus on broadband deployment is critical for expanding high-speed internet access in rural areas. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increasing broadband availability through faster deployment helps low-income households access essential digital services. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Faster broadband deployment can improve connectivity for middle-income families. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Improved infrastructure deployment benefits urban residents by ensuring faster internet connectivity.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill promotes economic growth by accelerating the deployment of essential broadband infrastructure through improved administrative oversight. Is this likely to create jobs? — By streamlining the permitting and application process, the bill facilitates the faster deployment of broadband infrastructure which supports job growth.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill aims to speed up broadband deployment by improving the oversight and tracking of permit requirements and application processing times.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates a public dashboard to track the progress and expenditures of broadband grant recipients.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — While focused on broadband, the streamlining of permit tracking tools supports the broader infrastructure deployment pipeline.
A committee approved it and sent it to the floor
What changed from Introduced in Senate
Only the wording changed; what the bill would do is the same.
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
- 11/9/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-158.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 691.
- 7/22/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 4/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S2173)
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
John BarrassoRepublican · Wyoming
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico