HR2289

HR2289, the 'Proportional Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act,' was ordered to be Reported by the House on December 3, 2025, by a vote of 26-24, following a committee markup session. The bill is currently awaiting floor action in the House. This marks a significant step forward from its introduction on March 24, 2025, and subsequent referral to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources. This bill does not authorize or appropriate any direct funding. Instead, its mechanism is regulatory relief. It amends Section 6409(a)(3) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to explicitly state that eligible facilities requests for modifying existing wireless towers are not considered major federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or undertakings under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This exemption removes the requirement for certain environmental and historical preservation reviews, thereby reducing the time and cost associated with deploying and upgrading wireless infrastructure. Structural winners from this legislation would primarily be companies involved in the deployment, maintenance, and operation of wireless communication infrastructure. This includes telecommunications carriers and their equipment suppliers who would benefit from a faster, less costly process for expanding and upgrading their networks. While no specific companies are named in the bill, major telecommunications providers and their infrastructure partners are positioned to benefit from reduced regulatory hurdles. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], indicates a Republican-led effort to reduce regulatory burdens. To become law, HR2289 must pass the full House, then pass the Senate, and finally be signed by the President. Given its current status of being reported out of committee, it has cleared an important hurdle and demonstrates legislative momentum. The next step is a vote on the House floor.