President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at providing better access to broadband internet services in rural locations across the U.S.The White House said Monday the “Streamlining and Expediting Requests to Locate Broadband Facilities in Rural America” order directs the executive branch to use tools that can accelerate the utilization and delivery of broadband connectivity across homes, tribal communities, transportation, healthcare and education facilities in the region.
The executive order requires the administrator of the General Services Administration and leaders of federal property management agencies to assess the effectiveness of the GSA Common Form Application on accelerating the review process for requests to locate broadband facilities on federal property.
Federal property managing agencies will have 180 days to submit reports on the effectiveness of the Common Form Application along with details regarding the number of applications received, percentage approved and rejected as well as the basis for rejection.
The order also urges agencies to address capital investment barriers and potential hindrances to broadband services to help sustain rural broadband infrastructure projects.
