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Politics

Federal Government

Arizona Rural and Tribal Broadband Streamlining Act

Status: HopperSession: September 2026 Senate SessionIssue: Broadband

Summary

The bill creates a competitive grant program using existing federal broadband funds to expand affordable service in underserved rural and tribal Arizona, while streamlining applications, permitting, and reporting. It prioritizes unserved areas, open-access projects, matching funds, tribal consultation, transparent mapping, and enforceable standards without waiving key protections.

Full text

This Act directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to establish, in coordination with the Arizona Commerce Authority and federally recognized Arizona tribes, a competitive grant program to expand reliable, affordable broadband in underserved rural and tribal communities. Grants shall prioritize unserved locations, open-access infrastructure, and projects with matching nonfederal funds, while requiring transparent mapping, tribal consultation, and enforceable performance standards. The Act shall establish a single federal application and coordinated permitting process for eligible projects, authorize the use of existing federal broadband funds subject to applicable law, and reduce duplicative reporting and administrative requirements without waiving environmental, historic-preservation, or public-safety protections.

Sponsor

Deb HarlowRepublican Party

Cosponsors

None yet

Debate

Debate has not started yet. Once this bill is scheduled to the floor, chamber coverage and statements will appear here.