H.R. 2975 — Broadband Incentives for Communities Act

This section states congressional findings that (1) Congress provided at least $42.5 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) for federal agencies to expand broadband in underserved rural and low-income communities; (2) local governments play a significant role in broadband deployment through zoning and permitting; (3) local governments need assistance to manage accelerated broadband-related applications; (4) the federal government has a critical role in encouraging local broadband deployment; and (5) a competitive grant program for local governments is vital to successful broadband policy.

This section establishes the Broadband Incentives for Communities Grant Program, under which the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information shall make competitive grants to covered entities (i.e., eligible governmental jurisdictions) to facilitate efficient review and approval of covered applications (i.e., requests for broadband infrastructure deployment, including fifth-generation wireless and fiber). To qualify, a covered entity must submit an application and demonstrate readiness through (1) adoption of efficient processes for reviewing such applications that comply with federal standards and promote use of existing infrastructure; (2) policies, ordinances, or guidance enabling expedited deployment methods such as micro-trenching; and (3) fee structures limited to actual, objectively reasonable processing and right-of-way access costs for specified applications, or otherwise uniform, reasonable, and publicly posted fees. Grant funds may be used for (1) capacity-building, including employee training and hiring to process covered applications, or (2) purchasing technology, software, and equipment to support such processing, including in remote work environments.

This section directs the Assistant Secretary to establish, not later than 90 days after enactment, the Local Broadband Advisory Council to develop solutions to challenges in facilitating wireless and broadband deployment—including in unserved and underserved communities—faced by local jurisdictions, covered entities, and infrastructure providers. The council consists of broadband deployment stakeholders appointed by the Assistant Secretary, including representatives from the broadband industry, infrastructure providers, local governments, and covered entities, and must submit a report to the Assistant Secretary and Congress not later than one year after its establishment.

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act as follows: (1) "Assistant Secretary" as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information; (2) "broadband infrastructure" as facilities or equipment utilized for broadband internet access service (as defined in 47 C.F.R. § 8.1(b)); (3) "Council" as the Local Broadband Advisory Council established under section 4; (4) "covered application" as a zoning or permitting application that facilitates broadband infrastructure deployment; (5) "covered entity" as a political subdivision of a state or an Indian tribe (as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304); and (6) "State" as each state, the District of Columbia, and each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.