BEAD FEE Act of 2025

HR 1975, the BEAD FEE Act of 2025, sets new rules for fees charged by local governments or entities receiving federal broadband grant funds (BEAD Program). It prohibits these entities from charging fees for broadband infrastructure placement, construction, or modification unless fees are competitively neutral, publicly disclosed, based solely on actual costs (like review processing or repairs), and clearly categorized as recurring or nonrecurring. The bill directly affects local governments and political subdivisions managing rights-of-way when they receive BEAD grant funds. It aims to prevent arbitrary fees and ensure transparency in cost calculations for broadband deployment projects.