119th Congress · introduced in the House · Nov 17, 2025
Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Dec 3, 2025): Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 0.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in House (Nov 17, 2025)
Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act
This bill establishes a framework for the placement or modification of broadband or telecommunications equipment in a railroad corridor.
Specifically, if a broadband or telecommunications provider is seeking to place or modify equipment within a railroad carrier’s right-of-way, the provider must submit an application to the carrier. A carrier must approve or deny an application within 60 days of receipt, and may only deny an application for safety reasons or if the placement or modification would substantially interfere with or damage railroad infrastructure. Once an application is approved, work must be scheduled in coordination with the carrier and generally must begin within 30 days. A provider must pay the railroad carrier for actual costs incurred with respect to the application.
However, if a provider has been authorized by a state or local government to place or modify equipment in a public right-of-way in an area that intersects with a railroad corridor, the provider need only notify the relevant railroad carrier and schedule the work in coordination with the carrier. Work must generally begin between 15 and 30 days after the notification is submitted. No fee is required.
A provider or carrier may petition the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for relief if the other has failed to comply with these provisions.
The FCC must promulgate regulations to implement these provisions in a manner that ensures railroad safety, provides a timelier process for emergency situations, and prevents substantial interference with railroad infrastructure or operations, among other requirements.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 0.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
60 citations; showing the 25 most recently posted.
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES · lobbying firm or registrant: VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,820,000
Spent on own lobbying
…frastructure and Government Act; provisions and amendments related to telecommunications H.R. 5967: Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act; all provisions H.R. 6046: Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act: all provisions H.R. 6152: Foreign Robocall Elimination Act; all provisions H.R. 6333: Parents Over Platforms Act; a…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AT&T SERVICES INC AND ITS AFFILIATES · lobbying firm or registrant: AT&T SERVICES, INC. AND ITS AFFILIATES
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,640,000
Spent on own lobbying
…al Broadband Assistance Act, all provisions S 3199 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026, issues related to telecommunications service providers S 3268/HR 6046 Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, all provisions HR 3479 SECURE Americans Telecommunications Act, all provisions S 3639 Satellite Streamlining, all pr…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,940,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ience, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 - all provisions related to cable. -HR 5550 - Lower Internet Costs Act - all provisions related to cable. -HR 6046 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act - all provisions related to cable. -HR 6920 - Success for BEAD Act - all provisions related to cable. -HR 7742 - Ke…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC · lobbying firm or registrant: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$2,230,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ending Expired Cybersecurity Authorities Act, all provisions. S.1071 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, provisions related to spectrum. H.R. 6046 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, all provisions. S.3565 - SUCCESS for BEAD Act, all provisions. Draft of Outage Refund Protection Act, provisions r…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$160,000
Spent on own lobbying
…te, Local, and Tribal Lands S. 3259, RECAPTURE Act - Issues relating to the Implementation of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program S. 3268/H.R. 6046, Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act - Issues relating to Infrastructure Deployment, Permitting and Siting, Including on Federal, State, Local, and Triba…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: THE SMITH-FREE GROUP, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$70,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Monitored discussions regarding H.R. 6046, the Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act (all sections of full text)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
FIBER BROADBAND ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: WILEY REIN LLP
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$60,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…Tax Treatment Act H.R. 3119/S. 3084, ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 H.R. 4776, Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act H.R. 6046/S. 3268, Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act H.R. 6920/S. 3565, Supporting U.S. Critical Connectivity and Economic Strategy and Security (SUCCESS) for BE…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNITED STATES TELECOM ASSN · lobbying firm or registrant: UNITED STATES TELECOM ASSN
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$610,000
Spent on own lobbying
…to support the success of the broadband deployment projects funded by that program, and for other purposes. S.3268 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act H.R.6046 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act H.R.4776 - SPEED Act S. 2666 - Foreign Robocall Elimination Act S.1396 - Content Origin Protection and Integrity fr…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$1,010,000
Spent on own lobbying
S.3878/HR 7662 - Rail Safety Enhancement Act of 2026 S.3903/HR 7748 - Railway Safety Act of 2026 HR 928 - Railway Safety Act of 2025 S.3268/HR 6046 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act S.3987/HR 7784 - Secure Tracks Act S.5294/HR 8417 - Keeping China Off the Rails Act S.1779/HR 3194 LOCOMOTIVES Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY · lobbying firm or registrant: BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$930,000
Spent on own lobbying
…master Protection Act of 2025, All matters pertaining to the railroad S.3268, Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R.6046, Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, All matters pertaining to the railroad H.R.6064, Protecting Homes from Trains Act of 2025, All matters pertaining t…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$297,700
Spent on own lobbying
…Reliable Rail Service Act; HR 3055: TRANSPORT Jobs Act; HR 3647: SAFE CROSS Act - technology at crossings; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act - crossing bill; HR 6046: Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act; HR 5697: Passenger Rail Liability Adjustment Act; HR 5783: SAFE Tracks Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
COX ENTERPRISES INC. · lobbying firm or registrant: COX ENTERPRISES INC.
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$470,000
Spent on own lobbying
…e BEAD program; H.R. 1455 - Institute for Telecommunication Sciences Codification Act; H.R. 2784 - Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025; H.R. 6046/S. 3268 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act; Issues related to the reauthorization of the Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Act of 2015; H.R. 6920/…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND · lobbying firm or registrant: WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$130,000
Spent on own lobbying
…gital Applications Act H.R. 1665 DIGITAL Applications Act H.R. 1681, Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Act H.R. 278, BROADBAND Leadership Act S. 3268 and H.R. 6046, Broadband Telecommunications RAIL Act H.R. 1655, Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act H.R. 5264, Streamlining Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of B…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CINCINNATI BELL INC (DBA ALTAFIBER) AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES · lobbying firm or registrant: CINCINNATI BELL INC (DBA ALTAFIBER) AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 11, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$10,000
Spent on own lobbying
ROW Permitting, HR 2289 American BB Deployment Act, Railroad Crossings HR 6046 RAIL ACT
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES · lobbying firm or registrant: MERCURY STRATEGIES, LLC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Aug 4, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$20,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…; H.R. 5079 - Widespread Information Management for the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act (provisions and amendments related to telecommunications); H.R. 6046/S. 3268 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act (all provisions); H.R. 6333 - Parents Over Platforms Act (all provisions); H.R. 7022 - Mystic Alerts Act (a…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AT&T SERVICES INC AND ITS AFFILIATES · lobbying firm or registrant: MERCURY STRATEGIES, LLC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Aug 4, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$50,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…visions related to liability protections); S. 3199 - Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026 (issues related to telecommunications service providers); S 3268/HR 6046 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act (all provisions); S. 3639 - Satellite Streamlining Act (all provisions); S. 4448 - Accelerating Broadband Permits A…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES · lobbying firm or registrant: VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$3,050,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ions H.R. 5079: Widespread Information Management for the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act; provisions and amendments related to telecommunications H.R. 6046: Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act: all provisions H.R. 6333: Parents Over Platforms Act; all provisions H.R. 7022: Mystic Alerts Act; all provisions H…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AT&T SERVICES INC AND ITS AFFILIATES · lobbying firm or registrant: AT&T SERVICES, INC. AND ITS AFFILIATES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,650,000
Spent on own lobbying
…al Broadband Assistance Act, all provisions S 3199 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026, issues related to telecommunications service providers S 3268/HR 6046 Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, all provisions HR 3479 SECURE Americans Telecommunications Act, all provisions S 3639 Satellite Streamlining, all pr…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: NCTA - THE INTERNET & TELEVISION ASSOCIATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$3,190,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ience, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 - all provisions related to cable. -HR 5550 - Lower Internet Costs Act - all provisions related to cable. -HR 6046 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act - all provisions related to cable. -HR 6920 - Success for BEAD Act - all provisions related to cable. -HR 7742 - Ke…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: THE SMITH-FREE GROUP, LLC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$70,000
Paid to lobbying firm
H.R. 6046, the Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act (all sections of full text)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC · lobbying firm or registrant: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$2,450,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ending Expired Cybersecurity Authorities Act, all provisions. S.1071 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, provisions related to spectrum. H.R. 6046 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act, all provisions. S.3565 - SUCCESS for BEAD Act, all provisions. Draft of Outage Refund Protection Act, provisions r…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND · lobbying firm or registrant: WTA -- ADVOCATES FOR RURAL BROADBAND
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$130,000
Spent on own lobbying
…gital Applications Act H.R. 1665 DIGITAL Applications Act H.R. 1681, Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Act H.R. 278, BROADBAND Leadership Act S. 3268 and H.R. 6046, Broadband Telecommunications RAIL Act H.R. 1655, Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act H.R. 5264, Streamlining Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of B…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
FIBER BROADBAND ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: WILEY REIN LLP
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$60,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…yment Act of 2025 H.R. 3119/S. 3084, ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2025 H.R. 4776, Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act H.R. 6046/S. 3268, Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act H.R. 6920/S. 3565, Supporting U.S. Critical Connectivity and Economic Strategy and Security (SUCCESS) for BE…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: COMPETITIVE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$170,000
Spent on own lobbying
…te, Local, and Tribal Lands S. 3259, RECAPTURE Act - Issues relating to the Implementation of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program S. 3268/H.R. 6046, Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act - Issues relating to Infrastructure Deployment, Permitting and Siting, Including on Federal, State, Local, and Triba…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$310,000
Spent on own lobbying
…sings; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act - crossing bill; HR 4790/S 2520: All Aboard Act - electrification of US railroads; HR 6531: Bridges not Bumpers Act; HR 6046: Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act; HR 5697: Passenger Rail Liability Adjustment Act; HR 4170: Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act; HR 5783: SAF…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing