Bill > HR2692

This bill, the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act of 2019, requires the Department of Transportation to issue a notification and requirement to states that they must evaluate the need for broadband conduit (a type of infrastructure that supports the installation of fiber optic cables) as part of any highway construction project that receives federal funding and is commenced after the enactment of this bill. If the evaluation shows a need for broadband conduit within the next 15 years, the state must install the conduit as part of the project. The bill also establishes standards for the installation of the broadband conduit, including requirements for the number of conduits, their size, and the placement of access points. The Secretary of Transportation can waive the application of the bill under certain circumstances, such as a showing of undue burden or the availability of existing broadband infrastructure.