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The FCC today voted to move a step closer towards implementing new rules on state and local governments that bog down broadband expansion.

Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

June 25, 2026 — The Federal Communications Commission is taking aim at local red tape in an effort to speed up high-speed internet deployment.

With today’s 3-0 vote, the FCC kickstarts a formal rulemaking process to gather public comment on new federal limits against local delays and fees before locking final regulations into place.

In a June 25 release, the FCC stated that Chairman Brendan Carr proposed the rules to stop state and local governments from bogging down broadband expansion with excessive fees and lengthy delays.

Under the proposal, local authorities would have a 120-day deadline to process wireline applications or face a presumption that they are unlawfully blocking service. The rules would also cap local fees, limiting them strictly to the actual, direct costs of managing public rights-of-way.

FCC officials say the crackdown is necessary because protracted reviews and high fees have forced some providers to scale back investments, leaving consumers underserved.

Carr’s proposed rules additionally seek to prohibit the imposition of additional requirements on wireline telecommunications infrastructure deployments and would count in-kind compensation demanded by state and local governments toward any safe harbor fee levels.

Some AI tools also assisted in the crafting of this report.

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