June 23, 2026
VIA ELECTRONIC FILING (ECFS)

Marlene H. Dortch
Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
45 L Street NE Washington, DC 20554

Re: Build America: Eliminating Barriers to Wireline Deployments - WC Docket No. 25- 253

Dear Ms. Dortch:

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and educational programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for free-market approaches to public policy that allow people to realize their potential and pursue their dreams.

The Mackinac Center submits the following comments in response to the request for comments by the Federal Communications Commission regarding WC Docket No. 25-253, titled "Build America: Eliminating Barriers to Wireline Deployments.”

Gaining access to rights-of-way and local permitting are significant barriers to broadband deployment. Providers have abandoned projects that would have served communities due to delays, excessive and unpredictable fees, and a wide range of local requirements that impose unnecessary costs on deployment. One local government in Michigan used regulatory obstacles to deter entry by a private provider before announcing its own municipal broadband project that would compete with private providers.

We support the Notice’s approach to standardizing the terms, fee structures, and approval times imposed by local governments as a condition of gaining access to and use of public rights-of-way to provide telecommunications services. We also support the FCC’s plan to limit in-kind compensation demanded by local governments. We encourage the FCC to move forward with the proposed rule as an important step in promoting faster deployment of internet infrastructure to reach more Americans.