House Committee Passes Kean's Bill to Accelerate Broadband Deployment to Rural and Tribal Communities
(February 12, 2026) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 5419, the Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act. 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 House floor for further consideration.
“I am pleased to see my bill advance to the full 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, “H.R. 5419 will identify and address barriers that prevent a timely review of permit applications for broadband access for rural and Tribal communities. I commend Rep. Kean for his efforts to ensure that our government runs efficiently so more rural Americans can access high-speed internet.”
Specifically, H.R.5419 directs federal agencies 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.
The full text of the bill can be found HERE.
###