South Dakota Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson has introduced legislation he said will improve rural broadband infrastructure.
The FOREST Act, or Facilitating Optimal and Rapid Expansion and Sitting of Telecommunications, aims to simplify resources for rural communities looking to upgrade.
“Regulations and red tape are making it harder for us to deploy broadband in rural America,” Johnson said. “My bill will reduce unnecessary red tape so we can get more and better service across our country.”
Johnson said the bill, if passed, would offer exemptions for communications infrastructure.
The proposal has support from USTelecom and The Internet and Television Association.