House Passes Kean's Bill to Accelerate Broadband Deployment to Rural and Tribal Communities

(March 3, 2026) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act, by unanimous voice vote. Introduced by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) in September 2025, this legislation will make meaningful progress towards connecting rural and Tribal communities to high-speed internet access by identifying and addressing key regulatory barriers. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
 

“I am pleased to see my bill pass the House of Representatives. Bridging the digital divide requires cutting through bureaucratic red tape, inefficiencies, and delays, and this legislation does just that,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “By addressing key regulatory barriers, prioritizing staffing to process permits, and improving interagency coordination, we can take real steps forward in ensuring affordable, reliable connectivity for our communities.”
 

Chairman Bruce Westerman of the House Committee on Natural Resources said, “Rural and tribal communities often face unnecessary burdens in obtaining reliable internet access. The Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act will identify and address regulatory barriers to make broadband access a reality for all Americans. I applaud Rep. Kean for ensuring that meaningful progress is made towards getting rural and Tribal communities online.”

Specifically, H.R.5419 directs the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive review of administrative barriers that delay the review of communications use authorizations. Within one year, the agencies must report to Congress with their findings and submit a plan to provide adequate staffing to ensure timely permit reviews. The bill addresses a critical bottleneck in broadband deployment: the permitting process for placing communications infrastructure on the millions of acres of federal land, particularly in rural areas where expanding coverage is most needed. 
 

Watch Congressman Kean speak on the House floor in support of his bill HERE.
 

Congressman Kean serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee, where he works on issues related to broadband access, telecommunications policy, and emerging technologies.
 

The full text of the bill can be found HERE.

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