Broadband Leaders Release Strategies to Streamline Permitting, Close Digital Divide
TL;DR
Broadband organizations publish strategic paper to guide local governments and ISPs in maximizing investments and navigating construction challenges.
The paper includes case studies and checklists for effective broadband network construction, focusing on partnership, resource maximization, and transparency.
The paper aims to bring high-speed internet access to every community in America, closing the digital divide and ensuring modern connectivity for all.
The paper's findings were identified during a collaborative national summit, attended by permitting leaders and key stakeholders, offering a clear roadmap for broadband deployment.
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Today, a coalition of prominent broadband organizations released a strategic paper titled “Permitting Success: Closing the Digital Divide Through Local Broadband Permitting.” The paper aims to assist local governments and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in overcoming challenges related to broadband network construction and optimizing investments in broadband connectivity for all Americans.
The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society collaborated with the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, the American Association for Public Broadband, Fiber Broadband Association, Brightspeed, and GFiber to produce the Permitting Success paper.
Released at a time when broadband infrastructure funding is at an all-time high due to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, the paper underscores the importance of efficient permitting processes. The BEAD program represents the largest broadband initiative in U.S. history, creating a pivotal opportunity to bring high-speed internet access to every community and close the digital divide.
The influx of funding will accelerate broadband network construction, placing significant pressure on local governments responsible for permitting within their jurisdictions. This challenge is particularly acute in rural areas, where municipal resources are often limited, and BEAD activity will be most intense.
The paper provides a comprehensive approach to ensuring effective and efficient permitting processes, essential for successful broadband deployment. It includes case studies, strategic checklists for ISPs, local governments, and state and federal agencies, and outlines three key categories for permitting success:
- Fostering partnerships between the permit seeker and the permitting authority
- Maximizing resources available to the permitting authority
- Ensuring transparency and consistency in the permitting process
The findings in the paper were derived from a national summit on local permitting processes, organized by the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy. The summit featured over 30 permitting leaders from various sectors, including local, state, and federal governments, ISPs, civil society organizations, philanthropies, and other key stakeholders. The paper will be discussed in an upcoming episode of FBA’s Fiber for Breakfast on September 25, at 10:00am EDT.
Drew Garner, Director of Policy Engagement at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, emphasized the critical role of local permitting offices in the national effort to close the digital divide. “Broadband is fundamental to modern life. Yet, for millions of Americans, broadband is unavailable. This paper is intended to help those offices and their applicants operate at maximum efficiency,” Garner said.
Natalie Roisman, Executive Director of the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, highlighted the collaborative nature of the summit and the paper’s development, stating, “We were pleased to host the permitting summit that sought input from a wide range of expert perspectives. This process will get us closer to the critical goal of broadband for every American.”
The paper’s collaborative creation involved diverse contributions from across the broadband ecosystem. According to Gigi Sohn, Executive Director of the American Association for Public Broadband, “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.”
Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association, noted the importance of developing effective strategies for network construction to ensure successful broadband deployment. He believes the paper will be a valuable addition to the industry’s resources.
Tom Dailey, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Government Affairs and Regulatory at Brightspeed, stressed the importance of streamlined, consistent, and transparent permitting processes, especially given the varying requirements across jurisdictions. Darrel Hegar, Head of Market Operations at GFiber, added that the strategies outlined in the paper provide a clear roadmap for bringing high-quality broadband to all Americans.
Curated from News Direct
