Real Estate Rama reports that…

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) have introduced bipartisan legislation to expand broadband infrastructure. The Streamlining and Investing in Broadband Infrastructure Act would increase broadband deployment by cutting red tape for companies, states, and local governments who want to install broadband infrastructure on federal land and promotes the simultaneous installation of underground broadband conduit during federal transportation projects.

Here’s a quick take on what the bill promises…

The Streamlining and Investing in Broadband Infrastructure Act would ensure states simultaneously install broadband conduits as part of certain federal transportation projects that involve constructing a new highway or adding an additional lane or shoulder — known as “dig once.” The bill establishes a “standard fee” to streamline leasing agreements involving the installation, construction and maintenance of a communications facility by instructing agencies in possession of federal government property or infrastructure to grant a real property interest to applicants, which may include states, wireless carriers, or other organizations seeking to install communications facilities.

And here’s a little bit on the Minnesota expert she brought to the discussion…

Last week, Klobuchar invited a Minnesotan who is a leader in the effort to improve broadband adoption in the state to participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Senate Democratic and Outreach Committee on issues that affect rural America. Bernadine Joselyn, director of public policy for the Blandin Foundation, spoke about the importance of increasing broadband adoption in rural communities and discussed her work to strengthen residential and business connections to broadband across Minnesota.

(We posted Bernadine’s comments last week.)