The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) has released a new white paper, “Permitting for Fiber Network Projects: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” highlighting how outdated and inconsistent permitting processes are slowing broadband expansion and risking billions in federal investment.
Permitting Bottlenecks Threaten Federal Broadband Goals
Permitting safeguards public safety, infrastructure integrity, and environmental protections, but the FBA report reveals that fragmented regulations, paper-based applications, and poor communication between agencies and network builders are creating costly delays. These inefficiencies jeopardize efforts to close the digital divide and can waste valuable taxpayer dollars intended for nationwide fiber deployment.
Brendan O’Boyle, Chair of the FBA Deployment Specialists Committee, warned that states must modernize now: “If states don’t update their permitting processes, they risk slowing deployment and increasing costs, which limits the benefits of broadband investments.”
Five Strategies to Modernize Broadband Permitting
The white paper recommends actionable steps to streamline fiber network construction:
Statewide Model Ordinances to create consistency across municipalities.
Digital Permit Tracking platforms to replace outdated paper systems.
Dig Once Policies to minimize repeated construction and disruption.
Standardized Pole Attachment Protocols to simplify access to existing infrastructure.
Escrow and Mediation mechanisms to resolve disputes efficiently.
The FBA also emphasizes the importance of well-trained agency personnel who understand broadband technologies and can manage permit applications effectively.
Path to Faster, Affordable Connectivity
By adopting these best practices, states can transform permitting from a barrier into a catalyst for rapid broadband growth. Streamlined processes will lower project costs, accelerate fiber deployment, and help meet the federal goal of bringing high-speed internet access to every U.S. household.
For policymakers, broadband providers, and community leaders, the message is clear: modern permitting is essential to bridging the digital divide and delivering reliable fiber connectivity nationwide.
TelecomLead.com News Desk