Top Broadband Policy Concerns & Considerations in 2025

Top Broadband Policy Concerns & Considerations in 2025

2025 is a pivotal year for broadband policy in the United States. With regulatory uncertainty surrounding the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, shifting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) leadership, and ongoing debates over affordability, competition, and infrastructure expansion, the policies set this year will have lasting industry implications. 

Here, we will explore seven of the top concerns and considerations for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and consumer advocacy groups in 2025 as we collectively work toward a more connected society. 

1. Broadband Affordability & Equity

Since the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in June of 2024, policymakers and industry leaders alike have been looking to find ways to fill the gap. The current appetite for reviving a program like the ACP appears low, leading several state policymakers to take it upon themselves to address persistent affordability barriers for low-income consumers. 

New York has led the charge with its 2021 Affordable Broadband Act that recently went into effect in January 2025, mandating ISPs to offer $15/mo. plans (25 Mbps) and $20/mo. plans (200 Mbps) to low-income households[1]. Since the Supreme Court denied reviewing challenges to New York’s law, this approach appears to be gaining traction among other states across the country, with California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Vermont considering similar legislation[2].

Affordability is also a priority for BEAD, as providers applying for BEAD funds are required to offer affordable plans for middle- and low-income households. Since this requirement only applies to BEAD-funded deployments, states considering affordability laws are hoping to advance access statewide.  

Support for these proposals is mixed, as some industry stakeholders have raised concerns about their ability to recoup investments under price controls.

Continuing in 2025, policymakers and industry experts will have to grapple with identifying the best ways to address digital inequity beyond pricing. While the fate of digital equity projects under the Digital Equity Act is unknown given the current administration’s recent roll back of equity-related programs, some in the industry remain hopeful they can put these grant program funds to use.

2. Permitting Delays

To succeed in connecting every person in the US with high-speed internet access, broadband providers will need to continue expanding and upgrading networks. Each deployment project comes with its own unique set of challenges, but virtually all projects require some degree of permitting at the local, state, or federal level. With historic levels of private and public investment (i.e., BEAD) in deployment on the line, there is growing concern that inefficiencies and delays in permitting offices will slow progress and drive-up costs.

These challenges aren’t just a matter of short-term setbacks—delays of even a few weeks in permitting can trigger months of construction delays, as labor forces and equipment are often reallocated to other projects in the interim.

Permitting delays continues to be one of the top concerns across the broadband industry, as the influx of BEAD projects is expected to put even more strain on permitting administrators that are increasingly resource constrained. Looking ahead, industry stakeholders are bracing for more expensive deployments. Our recently published Fiber Deployment Cost Annual Report 2024,  created in collaboration with the Fiber Broadband Association, found many industry stakeholders expect permitting to contribute to higher costs in the next year[3].

It is possible providers could see some relief in 2025. Amidst growing concern, bipartisan lawmakers could revisit permitting reform. A permitting reform bill is expected to be reintroduced in 2025, with the goal of cutting through regulatory red tape and ensuring broadband projects can break ground more efficiently. As more BEAD subgrants are awarded and projects move toward deployment, permitting reform will remain a focal point to avoid unnecessary cost overruns and construction delays.

3. Supply Chain Issues

Persistent global supply chain bottlenecks are affecting the timely availability of broadband equipment, adding potential delays in network deployment. To combat these issues, officials are exploring policies that incentivize domestic manufacturing of critical components to reduce reliance on international supply chains, like the Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirement of BEAD-funded projects.

Other proposed laws aiming to secure diversified supply chains to mitigate future disruptions may be considered this year. For example, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund focuses on diversifying and promoting manufacturing of wireless technologies[4].

On February 13, 2025, the Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act was reintroduced by a bipartisan group of senators, which would mandate the FCC to assess semiconductor and network equipment supply chain disruptions in a biennial communications report to Congress[5].

4. BEAD Uncertainty

Some policymakers are eager to swing recent government efficiency momentum toward BEAD. Several lawmakers and industry participants have vocalized support for revisiting BEAD provisions, claiming that onerous labor, wage, and procurement requirements make it difficult for providers to efficiently and quickly deploy broadband[6].

This interest in making substantial changes to BEAD could complicate state plans, as 22 of 56 Eligible Entities have begun selecting service providers and 3 others have already completed their service provider selections[7]. For now, states are proceeding with current guidance and their NTIA-approved proposals.

With $43B in federal funding in the balance and states eager to start deployments, we can expect further policy clarification one way or another this year.

5. Spectrum Allocation

With the rapid rollout of 5G and its increasing involvement in delivering high-speed internet to consumers, wireless spectrum allocation remains a critical issue. Policymakers are aiming to achieve a strategy that balances licensed and unlicensed spectrum use cases to maximize innovation and accessibility. According to legislators, this approach would support diverse applications, from commercial wireless services to Wi-Fi technologies.

Efforts to enhance spectrum availability include legislative proposals like the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2024, which seeks to renew the FCC’s auction authority and mandate the allocation of additional spectrum for commercial use[8]. Legislators backing this bill are keen to see the US move quickly on this issue, citing national security concerns and stalled innovation and job creation caused by bureaucratic delays.