New Broadband Bill Fast-Tracks Internet on Federal Land by Skipping NEPA and Historic Reviews

The Reducing Barriers for Broadband on Federal Lands Act of 2025 is built around one core idea: getting high-speed internet to more places, faster. Specifically, Section 2 of this bill cuts the red tape for certain broadband projects that need to be built on federal land. If a federal agency gives the green light for a project that falls within an existing right-of-way—think the land alongside highways, roads, or utility corridors—that project gets to skip two major federal review processes that usually cause significant delays: the full environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the historic preservation review.

The Trade-Off: Speed vs. Oversight

For anyone living or working in rural areas with notoriously slow or non-existent internet, this is potentially huge news. By exempting these projects from the full NEPA review (Section 102(2)(C)), the bill removes a process that can often take months, if not years, to complete. This means broadband providers can theoretically deploy fiber optic lines and communication towers much quicker, translating directly into faster internet access for towns and businesses currently stuck in the digital slow lane. Likewise, skipping the historic preservation review under the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 300320 of title 54) eliminates another common hurdle for construction projects, further accelerating deployment.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road (and the Right-of-Way)

The key to this bill is the definition of “Right-of-Way.” It covers the area on, above, or below roads, sidewalks, and similar public property, plus the land right next to them that was part of the original grant. Crucially, the bill explicitly excludes the Interstate System from this definition, meaning any broadband work along the major interstates would still have to go through the full review process. For a small construction company trying to lay fiber for a local provider, this exemption means less time waiting for federal paperwork and more time actually building, potentially saving serious money on project costs.

The Fine Print: What’s Lost in the Rush?

While the goal of faster internet is easy to cheer for, the method here involves a significant trade-off. NEPA reviews are designed to force federal agencies to look closely at the environmental consequences of a project before it starts—things like the impact on local wildlife, water quality, or sensitive ecosystems. By bypassing this step, even within an established right-of-way, there’s less rigorous scrutiny of potential environmental damage. Similarly, the historic preservation review ensures that construction doesn't accidentally destroy significant historical or archaeological sites. For environmental groups and preservationists, this bill effectively reduces their ability to weigh in or challenge projects that might have unintended consequences on federal lands, prioritizing speed and infrastructure deployment over safeguards. The decision-making power is concentrated solely with the initial federal agency granting permission, without the requirement for the broader, public-facing assessment that NEPA provides.