U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli introduced legislation that his predecessor twice introduced in Congress — without success — to make it easier to obtain broadband access, particularly in rural areas.

Rulli, R-Salem, whose 11-county district includes all of Mahoning and Columbiana, said: “Reliable broadband is the lifeline for growth in rural communities like mine, unlocking vital opportunities for businesses, schools and families. The economic future of eastern Ohio and rural America is on the line. We cannot afford delays. The House must act now and pass this urgent legislation.”

But the House showed no sense of urgency when the bill was introduced two times by Republican Bill Johnson, who represented the 6th Congressional District for 11 years before Rulli was elected in July to succeed him. Johnson resigned Jan. 21, 2024, from the U.S. House to become Youngstown State University president.

During his time in Congress, Johnson introduced the same bill that Rulli is now sponsoring — the Wireless Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act — during two different legislative sessions.

Johnson’s bills in 2021 and 2023 had the backing of Cathy McMorris Rodgers as part of a Republican package to remove regulations in an effort to grow broadband, particularly in rural areas. McMorris Rodgers was the ranking Republican on Energy and Commerce in 2021 and its chairwoman in 2023, but that didn’t help get the bill out of the committee.

Johnson introduced the bill Feb. 15, 2021, when Democrats controlled the House. The bill was sent to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, of which Johnson was a member, and the House Natural Resources Committee. Energy and Commerce referred the bill a day later to its then-Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change four days later. It never left either committee.

Johnson then reintroduced the bill May 15, 2023, when his fellow Republicans controlled the House. The bill was again referred to Energy and Commerce, of which he was still a member, and moved four days later to its Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. It was also referred to the House Natural Resources Committee. Again, it never went anywhere.

After Johnson resigned, U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, a Tennessee Republican, on Feb. 15, 2024, introduced the same bill with the same name during the same legislative session.

Her bill followed an identical pattern — being referred to Energy and Commerce the day it was introduced and then to the same subcommittee as well as the House Natural Resources Committee. It also met the same fate by never leaving the committees.

Like Johnson’s bills and Harshbarger’s bill, Rulli’s proposal would remove requirements when upgrading or adding wireless facilities to existing infrastructure.

“We need reliable broadband and we need it fast,” said Rulli, a member of Energy and Commerce.

Like Johnson’s proposals and the one from Harshbarger, Rulli’s bill would permit broadband providers to mount or install personal wireless service facilities — such as antennas, transmitting devices and related equipment — on existing wireless service facilities and permit modifications to existing wireless service facilities without first obtaining a federal exemption to the National Historic Preservation Act or the National Environmental Policy Act. Those reviews can stifle the expansion of broadband access.

“This bill would eliminate burdensome reviews that are often repetitive and slow down broadband expansion,” Rulli said.

Johnson used the same sentence in a May 15, 2023, statement when he reintroduced the bill.