Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026

This bill would require the federal agency that runs the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program to post a public online dashboard showing each state's or entity's progress, including how much grant money it has spent and how many locations have gained broadband service. The agency would also have to build a tool to help grant recipients identify and track the federal permits their subgrantees need. Within 90 days, the agency would have to set up data controls and an alert system to help federal agencies track and meet the 270-day deadline for processing applications to place communications equipment, and it would have to analyze delays and report on them each year to four congressional committees. The bill would also add broadband construction projects that are subject to federal environmental review and likely to cost more than $5 million to the list of projects covered under a FAST Act permitting provision.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• John Thune Republican sponsor
• 2 cosponsors