S. 323 · On the floor · Science, Technology, Communications

PLAN for Broadband Act

What it does

Requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop and implement a national strategy to improve coordination and management of federal broadband programs.
Directs NTIA to develop and publish a plan for public comment establishing implementation procedures, including funding ceilings for non-technology-neutral federal broadband programs at individual locations.
Mandates executive branch agencies to identify and address delays in reviewing applications for easements, rights-of-way, or leases for communications infrastructure on federal property, with review deadlines remaining a
Requires federal agencies to establish methods to alert employees when risk of missing the 270-day review deadline exists for infrastructure applications.

Official summary

Proper Leadership to Align Networks for Broadband Act or the PLAN for Broadband Act This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop and implement a national strategy to improve the coordination and management of federal broadband programs and agency consideration of applications to build or maintain broadband infrastructure on federal property. The NTIA must also develop and publish for public comment a plan for the implementation of the national strategy. Among other requirements, the implementation plan must establish, for federal broadband programs that are not technologically neutral (i.e., programs that involve a preference for certain broadband technologies), a ceiling on the amount of funding that may be awarded to support the provision of broadband service to a single location. The bill also requires executive branch agencies to identify and address factors that contribute to delays in their review of applications for easements, rights-of-way, or leases related to communications infrastructure projects on federal property. (Under current law, agencies are generally required to act on such applications within 270 days.)…

Latest action

Jun 1, 2026: By Senator Cruz from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 119-123. Minority views filed.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation