Bill

H.R. 4312 — Rural Broadband Deployment Acceleration Act of 2026

Sponsored by Rep. Delgado (D-CA-14) · 3 cosponsors

Summary

Establishes an expedited federal permitting process for broadband deployment on federal lands, authorizes multi-year funding, and requires Tribal consultation and annual reporting.

Rural broadband

Posted Jul 16, 2026 by Committee on Rules (managers' amendment)

What changed

The managers' amendment added an annual Tribal-consultation report, increased funding to $825M with a 15% set-aside for persistent-poverty counties, and added a general reporting requirement.

Diff vs. previous

  SEC. 3. TRIBAL CONSULTATION.- The Assistant Secretary shall consult with affected Indian Tribes prior to issuing any permit under this Act.+ The Assistant Secretary shall consult with affected Indian Tribes prior to issuing any permit under this Act, and shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing the outcome of such consultations.  SEC. 4. FUNDING.- $750,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031+ $825,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, of which not less than 15 percent shall be reserved for projects serving persistent-poverty counties.+ SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.+ Not later than 1 year after enactment, and annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committees of jurisdiction a report on projects funded under this Act.

Text

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Rural Broadband Deployment Acceleration Act of 2026".

SEC. 2. STREAMLINED PERMITTING.

The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information shall, not later than 120 days after enactment, establish a streamlined permitting process for broadband deployment on covered Federal lands.

SEC. 3. TRIBAL CONSULTATION.

The Assistant Secretary shall consult with affected Indian Tribes prior to issuing any permit under this Act, and shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing the outcome of such consultations.

SEC. 4. FUNDING.

There is authorized to be appropriated $825,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this Act, of which not less than 15 percent shall be reserved for projects serving persistent-poverty counties.

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

Not later than 1 year after enactment, and annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committees of jurisdiction a report on projects funded under this Act.

Sponsor

Rep. Delgado (D-CA-14)

Committees

Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology

On the floor

rule Jul 23, 2026