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EO 13616Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13616

Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment

This executive order establishes a federal working group and mandates coordinated procedures to accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment on federal lands, buildings, and rights of way, with special attention to tribal lands and underserved communities. It requires agencies to develop uniform contract templates, improve permitting efficiency, and implement 'dig once' policies for highway construction projects.

Federal Register Open PDF 77 FR 36903

Impact dates

  1. Working Group report to Steering Committee on progress implementing sections 3-5

  2. Broadband Member Agencies must develop uniform contract/application/permit templates

  3. DOT must review dig once requirements and implement best practices

  4. DOT must work with state/local governments on best practices

  5. Interior and other agencies must revise tribal lands procedures for dig once

  6. DOT must review and revise guidance on broadband facilities on state/local rights of way

  7. DOT must create online platform for state/county rights of way laws

  8. Broadband Member Agencies must provide strategies to Co-Chairs

Key directives

  • Establish Broadband Deployment on Federal Property Working Group co-chaired by GSA Administrator and DHS Secretary representatives
  • Broadband Member Agencies must develop and implement broadband deployment strategies within 180 days of order
  • Agencies must provide comprehensive online information about accessing federal property for broadband deployment
  • GSA must consult with Working Group in developing application forms, master contracts, and fees under Section 6409 of Public Law 112-96
  • Broadband Member Agencies must develop uniform contract/application/permit templates within 1 year
  • DOT must review dig once requirements and implement best practices within 1 year
  • DOT must create online platform for state/county rights of way laws and joint occupancy guidelines within 1 year
  • Interior and other agencies must revise tribal lands procedures to include dig once requirements within 1 year
  • Working Group must report to Steering Committee on Federal Infrastructure Permitting within 1 year

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Working Group established with designated co-chairs from GSA and DHS

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Agency strategies due within 180 days
  • Templates for contracts/applications/permits due within 1 year
  • DOT dig once best practices and online platform due within 1 year
  • Working Group report to Steering Committee due within 1 year

Risks & tensions

  • Implementation subject to availability of appropriations (Sec. 6a), creating funding uncertainty
  • National security, public safety, and privacy exceptions may limit information transparency (Sec. 3d)
  • Coordination across 7+ agencies with competing priorities may slow implementation
  • Tribal consultation requirements add procedural complexity but are legally mandated
  • Equal access for wireline and wireless may create technical conflicts in template design
  • EO explicitly creates no enforceable rights, limiting accountability mechanisms (Sec. 6d)
Executive Order 13616: Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment · Executive Orders