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Broadband Permitting Modernization Act

USA117th CongressHR-3370| House 
| Updated: 7/13/2021
John R. Curtis

John R. Curtis

Republican Representative

Utah

Cosponsors (7)
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)David B. McKinley (Republican)Fred Upton (Republican)Kelly Armstrong (Republican)Bruce Westerman (Republican)Burgess Owens (Republican)
Committees (6)
• Federal Lands Subcommittee• Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee• Agriculture Committee• Communications and Technology Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Natural Resources Committee
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Broadband Permitting Modernization Act This bill modifies, and requires reports about, permitting requirements for broadband activities on federal lands. Specifically, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must report on communication use authorizations (i.e., authorizations to modify or locate communications facilities on public land administered by Interior or National Forest System land). Among other topics, the report must assess barriers to reviewing the authorizations and describe the process for prioritizing reviews. Interior and USDA must also each establish an online portal to manage the Form 299 (used to apply for rights to install, modify, or maintain a communications facility on federal real property) approval process. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration must (1) report to Congress every 60 days on the status of the portals until they are established, and (2) publish links to each established portal on its website. The bill also authorizes the delegation of federal environmental compliance for certain broadband projects to states and Indian tribes. Interior and USDA must establish a voluntary program whereby states or Indian tribes may conduct (subject to specified terms) environmental reviews for broadband projects within an operational right-of-way (i.e., all real property interests acquired for the construction or operation of a project) on land managed by Interior, National Forest System land, or Indian land. USDA and Interior shall also establish broadband permit streamlining teams to coordinate and expedite permitting decisions for broadband projects.
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Timeline
May 20, 2021
Introduced in House
May 20, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 21, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Jul 13, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Jul 13, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
  • May 20, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • May 20, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • May 21, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.


  • July 13, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.


  • July 13, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 117-1038: Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act
  • HR 117-1156: Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act
  • HR 117-1047: Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2021
  • HR 117-1525: DIGITAL Applications Act

Broadband Permitting Modernization Act

USA117th CongressHR-3370| House 
| Updated: 7/13/2021
Broadband Permitting Modernization Act This bill modifies, and requires reports about, permitting requirements for broadband activities on federal lands. Specifically, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must report on communication use authorizations (i.e., authorizations to modify or locate communications facilities on public land administered by Interior or National Forest System land). Among other topics, the report must assess barriers to reviewing the authorizations and describe the process for prioritizing reviews. Interior and USDA must also each establish an online portal to manage the Form 299 (used to apply for rights to install, modify, or maintain a communications facility on federal real property) approval process. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration must (1) report to Congress every 60 days on the status of the portals until they are established, and (2) publish links to each established portal on its website. The bill also authorizes the delegation of federal environmental compliance for certain broadband projects to states and Indian tribes. Interior and USDA must establish a voluntary program whereby states or Indian tribes may conduct (subject to specified terms) environmental reviews for broadband projects within an operational right-of-way (i.e., all real property interests acquired for the construction or operation of a project) on land managed by Interior, National Forest System land, or Indian land. USDA and Interior shall also establish broadband permit streamlining teams to coordinate and expedite permitting decisions for broadband projects.
View Full Text

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Timeline
May 20, 2021
Introduced in House
May 20, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 21, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Jul 13, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Jul 13, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
  • May 20, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • May 20, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • May 21, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.


  • July 13, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.


  • July 13, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
John R. Curtis

John R. Curtis

Republican Representative

Utah

Cosponsors (7)
Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)David B. McKinley (Republican)Fred Upton (Republican)Kelly Armstrong (Republican)Bruce Westerman (Republican)Burgess Owens (Republican)
Committees (6)
• Federal Lands Subcommittee• Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee• Agriculture Committee• Communications and Technology Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Natural Resources Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 117-1038: Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act
  • HR 117-1156: Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act
  • HR 117-1047: Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2021
  • HR 117-1525: DIGITAL Applications Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted