Bill · H.R. 339· House(119-HR-339)
Broadband Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act
- Introduced
- 1/13/2025
- Last activity
- 1/13/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Dan Crenshaw
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Broadband Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act," aims to amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. It seeks to streamline how State and local governments handle requests to modify existing wireless and telecommunications facilities. Under this Act, governments would be required to approve specific types of requests that do not significantly change physical dimensions. It establishes a 60-day timeframe for these decisions, after which requests are deemed approved if no determination is made. The bill also limits the documentation local governments can require from requesting parties.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this get reliable internet to more people?+5
By streamlining facility modifications, the bill facilitates more reliable and resilient wireless and telecommunications services.
Would business owners be better off under this?+4
The streamlined approval process and expedited judicial review reduce costs and time for telecommunications providers.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+4
The bill streamlines the process for telecommunications companies to modify existing facilities, reducing regulatory hurdles.
The opposite
Does this give the federal government more power?-3
The bill limits the authority of State and local governments to deny wireless facility modification requests.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Streamlined Approval Process: State and local governments would be prohibited from denying certain modification requests, such as those for wireless towers or telecommunications facilities that do not substantially change physical dimensions (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Faster Implementation of Improvements: The bill creates a "deemed approved" status if a government does not act within 60 days, ensuring that infrastructure updates move forward more quickly (Section 2(a)(2)(A)).
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Increased Public Safety and Reliability: The bill includes modifications that improve the resiliency of wireless structures, such as providing backup power, hardening structures, or providing more reliable connection capabilities (Section 2(a)(7)(A)).
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Legal Recourse for Requesting Parties: If the provisions of this Act are not followed, requesting parties have the right to bring an action in a U.S. district court, which must consider these actions on an expedited basis (Section 2(a)(6)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Reduced Local Government Oversight: By mandating that certain requests must be approved, the bill limits the ability of State or local governments to deny modifications to existing wireless towers, base stations, or telecommunications facilities (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Limitations on Information Gathering: Local governments are restricted from requiring documentation that isn't strictly related to determining if a request is eligible, which may limit the information available to the government during the review process (Section 2(a)(5)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Transit+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power-3
- 1/13/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.