Crapo Joins Letter on Improving Federal Lands Broadband Access

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined colleagues in sending a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) about the need to fix the broken permitting process for broadband infrastructure on federal lands.   

The letter specifically highlights how inaccurate and negligent record keeping has led to significant delays in the permitting process for applications on federal land.  According to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), both agencies regularly fail to approve permits within the 270-day timeline set by Congress.  These delays increase costs for internet service providers and further delay closing the digital divide. The letter requests information from both agencies on plans to fix multiple inaccuracies and improve their ability to track and manage applications.

“We write today concerning your agency’s efforts to track and manage applications for broadband infrastructure on federal land,” the Senators wrote. “Congress has allocated a significant amount of taxpayer money to expand access to high-speed internet, especially in rural areas, many of which reside on or are adjacent to federal land. It is imperative that this funding is utilized in a timely and efficient manner. Inaccurate record keeping and neglect only increase costs for internet service providers.”

The letter is led by Senator John Barraso (R-Wyoming).  Cosigners include Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), John Thune (R-South Dakota), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska).

Full text of the letter can be found here.