October 23, 2017
Background: Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) have introduced the bipartisan SPEED Act that would streamline the deployment of broadband infrastructure in areas that had already been subjected to historical or environmental reviews, including by preempting FCC reviews.
The following statement is from USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter:
“This bipartisan Bill is a significant step toward closing the digital divide. It removes bureaucratic roadblocks that inhibit the speed with which broadband service providers can deploy high speed internet to rural and underserved areas. Streamlining federal approvals, while also limiting hurdles for public rights-of-way (ROW) and where telecommunications infrastructure already exists, will fortify the broadband infrastructure needed to support our nation’s next-generation networks and America’s continued global competitiveness. Senators Wicker and Cortez Masto’s pro-competition, common-sense, and pro-consumer approach to fixing broken federal regulations will mean improved access not just to broadband for all Americans, no matter where they live, but to the employment, health care, and education opportunities that come with it. “