Broadband Incentives for Communities Act

This bill directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to create a competitive grant program to help local governments efficiently review and approve zoning and permitting applications for broadband infrastructure deployment. It also establishes an advisory council to address shared challenges in broadband deployment.

Sec. 3, Broadband Incentives for Communities Grant Program: The Assistant Secretary must establish a competitive grant program for covered entities (local governments or Indian Tribes). To be eligible, an entity must apply and show readiness for broadband deployment, including adopting efficient review processes, written policies for expedited methods like micro-trenching, and reasonable fees limited to actual costs or uniform and published fees. Grant funds must be used for capacity-building (e.g., training, hiring) or purchasing technology, software, or equipment to process applications.

Sec. 4, Local Broadband Advisory Council: Within 90 days of enactment, the Assistant Secretary must establish a Local Broadband Advisory Council composed of broadband stakeholders (industry, local governments, etc.) to develop solutions for challenges in wireless and broadband deployment, especially in unserved and underserved areas. The Council must submit a report on its solutions to the Assistant Secretary and Congress within one year of establishment.

Sec. 5, Authorization of Appropriations: Such sums as necessary are authorized to be appropriated to the Assistant Secretary to carry out this Act.

Sec. 6, Definitions: Key terms are defined, including "Assistant Secretary" (the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information), "broadband infrastructure" (facilities for broadband internet access service), "covered application" (zoning or permitting for broadband deployment), and "covered entity" (a political subdivision of a state or an Indian Tribe).