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PLAN for Broadband Act

USA119th CongressS-323| Senate 
| Updated: 3/12/2025
Roger F. Wicker

Roger F. Wicker

Republican Senator

Mississippi

Cosponsors (2)
Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Proper Leadership to Align Networks for Broadband Act," or the PLAN for Broadband Act , mandates the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to develop a comprehensive National Strategy to Synchronize Federal Broadband Programs. This strategy, to be created in consultation with numerous federal agencies, aims to ensure that funding for broadband programs is used efficiently and responsibly to provide high-speed, affordable internet access to all Americans. It seeks to improve interagency coordination, streamline permitting processes, and reduce unnecessary barriers and costs associated with federal broadband initiatives. The National Strategy must identify all federal, state, and local broadband programs, describe current coordination efforts, and pinpoint gaps or limitations hindering effective interagency collaboration. It will establish clear roles, responsibilities, goals, and performance measures for managing federal broadband programs and interagency coordination. Furthermore, the strategy will recommend legislative and administrative actions to help state, local, and Tribal governments efficiently distribute funding, avoid duplication of infrastructure, and promote access to necessary deployment infrastructure. Following the strategy, an Implementation Plan must be developed to put these recommendations into action. This plan will detail how to streamline policies across covered agencies, potentially set subsidy limits for non-technologically neutral programs, and establish mechanisms for holding agencies accountable. It will also outline a plan for adopting common data sets, including the Deployment Locations Map, to prevent awards in already served or obligated areas, and to monitor and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in federal broadband programs. A draft of this plan will be subject to public comment. The bill also includes provisions for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to examine the efficacy of the Strategy and Implementation Plan, focusing on coordination, performance goals, and the prevention of duplicative awards. Additionally, it requires covered agencies to report on their efforts to populate the Deployment Locations Map and amends existing law to improve the tracking and processing times for communications use applications on federal property, while also adjusting the NEPA threshold for certain large broadband projects.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4767
PLAN for Broadband Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2238
PLAN for Broadband Act
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 29, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 12, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Apr 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2805
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4767
    PLAN for Broadband Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2238
    PLAN for Broadband Act


  • January 29, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 29, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • March 12, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.


  • April 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2805
    Introduced in House

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 119-866: Accelerating Broadband Permits Act
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightGeography and mappingGovernment studies and investigationsInternet, web applications, social mediaTechnology assessment

PLAN for Broadband Act

USA119th CongressS-323| Senate 
| Updated: 3/12/2025
The "Proper Leadership to Align Networks for Broadband Act," or the PLAN for Broadband Act , mandates the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to develop a comprehensive National Strategy to Synchronize Federal Broadband Programs. This strategy, to be created in consultation with numerous federal agencies, aims to ensure that funding for broadband programs is used efficiently and responsibly to provide high-speed, affordable internet access to all Americans. It seeks to improve interagency coordination, streamline permitting processes, and reduce unnecessary barriers and costs associated with federal broadband initiatives. The National Strategy must identify all federal, state, and local broadband programs, describe current coordination efforts, and pinpoint gaps or limitations hindering effective interagency collaboration. It will establish clear roles, responsibilities, goals, and performance measures for managing federal broadband programs and interagency coordination. Furthermore, the strategy will recommend legislative and administrative actions to help state, local, and Tribal governments efficiently distribute funding, avoid duplication of infrastructure, and promote access to necessary deployment infrastructure. Following the strategy, an Implementation Plan must be developed to put these recommendations into action. This plan will detail how to streamline policies across covered agencies, potentially set subsidy limits for non-technologically neutral programs, and establish mechanisms for holding agencies accountable. It will also outline a plan for adopting common data sets, including the Deployment Locations Map, to prevent awards in already served or obligated areas, and to monitor and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in federal broadband programs. A draft of this plan will be subject to public comment. The bill also includes provisions for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to examine the efficacy of the Strategy and Implementation Plan, focusing on coordination, performance goals, and the prevention of duplicative awards. Additionally, it requires covered agencies to report on their efforts to populate the Deployment Locations Map and amends existing law to improve the tracking and processing times for communications use applications on federal property, while also adjusting the NEPA threshold for certain large broadband projects.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4767
PLAN for Broadband Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2238
PLAN for Broadband Act
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 29, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 12, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Apr 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2805
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4767
    PLAN for Broadband Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2238
    PLAN for Broadband Act


  • January 29, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 29, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • March 12, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.


  • April 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2805
    Introduced in House
Roger F. Wicker

Roger F. Wicker

Republican Senator

Mississippi

Cosponsors (2)
Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 119-866: Accelerating Broadband Permits Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCongressional oversightGeography and mappingGovernment studies and investigationsInternet, web applications, social mediaTechnology assessment