Oregon broadband projects paused following data center executive order

The Oregon Department of Transportation has placed at least 20 right-of-way permit applications on hold following an executive order from Governor Tina Kotek. The order, issued in September, directs state agencies to pause the approval of new or pending leases, easements, and permits for data centers located on state-owned lands.

Agency officials are currently investigating whether the pending applications are specifically intended to support data center operations. The applications involve the installation of large amounts of buried broadband or fiber conduit along state highway shoulders.

The affected applications are held by three telecommunications companies: Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., Lumen, and Intermountain Infrastructure Group. These companies manage large-scale fiber optic networks that connect data centers, cellular providers, and other information processing facilities across the Western United States.