This bill mandates the creation of a comprehensive National Strategy and detailed Implementation Plan to coordinate federal efforts, reduce bureaucracy, and close the digital divide by ensuring universal access to fast and affordable broadband internet.
Tim Walberg
Representative
MI-5
The PLAN for Broadband Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive National Strategy to effectively coordinate federal broadband programs and streamline deployment efforts across the country. This strategy must detail roles, goals, and methods for cutting red tape for state, local, and Tribal governments seeking to expand internet access. Following the strategy, a detailed Implementation Plan will establish concrete timelines, accountability measures, and public check-ins to ensure progress in closing the digital divide. The Government Accountability Office will also study the effectiveness of these plans to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently.
The PLAN for Broadband Act: Feds Must Coordinate 20+ Internet Programs to Slash Red Tape and Speed Up Rural Rollout
The Proper Leadership to Align Networks for Broadband Act—or the PLAN for Broadband Act—is a major push to finally force the federal government to get its act together on internet access. The bill mandates that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information create a comprehensive "National Strategy to Close the Digital Divide" within one year. This strategy isn't just a wish list; it’s designed to synchronize the dozens of federal programs that currently fund broadband, streamline the painful process of getting permission to build on federal land, and, crucially, cut down on the bureaucratic headaches for state and local governments trying to use this federal cash.
Too Many Cooks: Why Coordination Matters
Right now, federal broadband funding is spread across a massive list of agencies, from the Department of Agriculture to Health and Human Services—all listed as "Covered Agencies" in the bill. This means if a small town is trying to build a new fiber network, they might be dealing with three different sets of rules, three different reporting requirements, and three different maps of where service is needed. The PLAN Act demands that the new Strategy list all these programs and outline specific goals for coordinating them, eliminating overlapping or duplicated efforts, and making sure everyone uses the same official broadband maps (SEC. 2, SEC. 3).
If you run a small internet service provider (ISP) trying to lay fiber in a rural area, this could be a game-changer. Instead of spending months figuring out which agency's rules apply where, the goal is a single, clearer path. For state and local governments, the bill specifically requires the Strategy to recommend administrative changes that will help them distribute federal funding more efficiently, meaning less time spent on paperwork and more time spent actually building the network (SEC. 2).
Cutting Through the Federal Land Wait Times
One of the biggest roadblocks to rolling out high-speed internet, especially in the West, is getting permission (easements or rights of way) to cross federal property. This can take years. The bill requires the new Strategy to focus on how to speed up this permitting process for new infrastructure. For example, a utility worker trying to install a new cell tower or fiber line near a national forest could see the approval time drop from months to weeks if the agencies actually follow the Implementation Plan’s mandate to coordinate and accelerate permitting (SEC. 2, SEC. 3).
This Implementation Plan is the real roadmap. It must be submitted 120 days after the Strategy and requires concrete steps for accountability, including regular public check-ins on progress and clear mechanisms—like required meetings between agency heads—to ensure coordination happens (SEC. 3). The government is essentially being forced to create a project management plan for fixing the digital divide, complete with milestones and performance reviews.
Checks and Balances: The Public and the GAO
This isn't a strategy written in a vacuum. Before the Assistant Secretary finalizes the Strategy, they must consult with consumer groups, Tribal entities, and broadband providers. Furthermore, the Implementation Plan requires a public comment period within 30 days of the Strategy's submission, ensuring the people who actually need the service get a say in how it’s deployed (SEC. 2, SEC. 3).
To keep everyone honest, the bill calls in the big guns: the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO is required to conduct an independent study of both the Strategy and the Implementation Plan within one year of the plan being adopted. This means an independent watchdog will assess how effective the government’s grand plan actually is at closing the digital divide and offer suggestions for improvement (SEC. 5).
It’s important to note that while this bill gives the Assistant Secretary of Commerce significant authority to coordinate most federal agencies, it explicitly states that it does not grant power over the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or change the FCC’s existing authority (SEC. 4). This preserves the FCC’s independence, but it does mean that the new national strategy will have to work around the edges of the FCC’s existing regulatory power, which could lead to some friction down the line. Overall, the PLAN Act is focused on administrative efficiency—less wasted time and money—which should theoretically translate into faster, cheaper internet deployment for communities that need it most.