Broadband Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act

House Votes

This bill makes it faster and simpler to upgrade existing cell towers and other telecom equipment. State and local governments must approve certain small changes to current towers, base stations, and telecom sites when the change doesn’t make them much bigger. If officials don’t act within 60 days, the request is automatically approved. If they say it’s not eligible, they have to explain why and cite the rule they used. They can only ask for information that’s truly needed to check eligibility and that’s listed in public rules, and they can’t force extra pre-application steps. Companies can go to federal court for quick enforcement if needed.

The bill also covers adding, removing, or replacing equipment, including gear that boosts network resiliency and public safety, like backup power or hardening against storms. If the government says an application is incomplete within 30 days, the 60-day clock can pause until the missing items are sent, with limits to prevent new or improper demands for paperwork . The FCC must write rules within 180 days, and the new process applies to requests filed after the law takes effect.

• Who is affected: Wireless and telecom providers, state and local permitting offices, and communities that rely on reliable networks.
• What changes: 60-day deadline with automatic approval; clear reasons required for denials; limited, publicly listed paperwork only; no pre-application steps; quick court review if needed .
• What counts: Small upgrades to existing sites, including adding/removing/replacing equipment and resiliency upgrades like backup power and hardening.
• When: Applies to requests submitted after enactment; FCC rules due within 180 days.