Broadband Leaders Release Strategies to Streamline Permitting for ISPs and Local Governments

A coalition of leading broadband organizations has released a strategic paper titled “Permitting Success: Closing the Digital Divide Through Local Broadband Permitting.” The document aims to assist local governments and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in overcoming broadband network construction challenges and maximizing investments in broadband connectivity across the United States.

Authored by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society in collaboration with the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, the American Association for Public Broadband, Fiber Broadband Association, Brightspeed, and GFiber, the paper comes at a pivotal moment. Historic levels of funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program—the largest broadband initiative in U.S. history—provide a unique opportunity to extend high-speed internet access to every American community.

This influx of funding is expected to accelerate broadband network construction, placing significant pressure on local governments responsible for permitting infrastructure projects. The paper highlights that not all local governments are equipped to handle the upcoming surge in construction, especially in rural areas where resources are limited and BEAD activities will be most concentrated.

The paper outlines three main categories for permitting success: fostering partnerships between permit seekers and authorities, maximizing resources available to permitting authorities, and ensuring transparency and consistency in the permitting process. It also includes case studies and strategic checklists for ISPs, local governments, and state and federal agencies.

The findings were derived from a national summit on local permitting processes hosted by the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy. The summit included over 30 permitting leaders from local, state, and federal governments, ISPs, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.

According to Drew Garner, Director of Policy Engagement at the Benton Institute, “Broadband is fundamental to modern life. Yet, for millions of Americans, broadband is unavailable. The U.S. has launched a historic effort to bring broadband to every household, but this requires extensive construction permitting, often at the local level. This paper aims to help those offices and their applicants operate at maximum efficiency.”

Natalie Roisman, Executive Director of the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “We were pleased to host the permitting summit to gather input from diverse private and public sector perspectives, culminating in this thoughtful paper. We hope this process will bring us closer to the goal of broadband for every American.”

Gigi Sohn, Executive Director of the American Association for Public Broadband, noted the collaborative nature of the effort, saying, “This paper was made possible by a unique collaboration among representatives from across the broadband ecosystem. While there was not always unanimity on every finding, there was complete agreement that everyone benefits when all U.S. households are connected to robust, affordable high-speed broadband.”

The paper will be discussed further in an episode of the Fiber Broadband Association’s Fiber for Breakfast series on September 25.