Sponsors (4)
The bill centralizes and coordinates federal broadband efforts to improve access, transparency, and support for underserved communities, but it increases administrative requirements and costs and risks delays or duplication during implementation.
State and local governments, tribal governments, and other stakeholders gain clearer federal coordination (defined roles, a single point of contact, implementation plan, and regular interagency meetings), making it easier to plan, align grants, and deploy broadband projects.
Residents in underserved, rural, tribal, and low-income communities will see more targeted attention and better-designed efforts to close the digital divide, improving connectivity options and adoption prospects.
Low-income individuals and households will receive increased outreach and enrollment support for affordability and adoption programs, improving access to subsidized Internet service.
State and local governments, federal agencies, and program recipients will face increased administrative, planning, and reporting burdens to align with standardized applications, implementation plans, and frequent briefings, diverting staff time and resources from deployment.
Taxpayers and federal budgets may incur higher costs because developing, implementing, and staffing the national Strategy, plus related GAO work and reporting, require additional federal resources.
Standardization, centralized requirements, public engagement processes, and additional studies could slow program rollouts or delay projects while agencies adjust processes or complete analyses and consultations.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Directs NTIA to create and implement a national broadband strategy and plan to coordinate federal programs, streamline approvals, and lower barriers for States, Tribes, and localities.
Introduced April 9, 2025 by Tim Walberg · Last progress April 9, 2025
Requires the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information (NTIA) to create a National Strategy to Close the Digital Divide within one year and an Implementation Plan within 120 days after that Strategy. The plan must coordinate 14 federal agencies' broadband programs, streamline approvals for use of federal property, reduce costs and administrative barriers for States, Tribes, and localities, and set measurable goals and accountability for closing gaps in deployment, affordability, and adoption. Sets deadlines for congressional briefings and recurring progress reports, requires public consultation and adoption of common data and application standards (including use of the federal Broadband Map), and directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate effectiveness and recommend improvements within one year after the Implementation Plan is submitted.