This bill is at the center of a tug-of-war between two goals: expanding high-speed internet as fast as possible and protecting the rights of local communities to manage their own land. If this bill becomes law, cities could charge higher fees to telecom companies, which could generate more local revenue but might also make internet service more expensive for consumers.

Currently, federal rules favor fast deployment to help the U.S. lead in 5G technology. Without these rules, some experts worry that a 'patchwork' of different local regulations across the country will make it harder and more expensive for companies to provide internet to everyone, especially in rural or lower-income areas where the profit margins are already thin.