Sitting in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Most bills stop at this point and never get a vote.
Science, Technology, CommunicationsCongressional oversightLand use and conservationInternet, web applications, social mediaIntergovernmental relationsAdvisory bodiesGovernment buildings, facilities, and propertyInfrastructure development
Why This Matters
This bill creates an interagency strike force that presses federal land management agencies to speed up reviews of requests to build or modify communications facilities on public lands.
If you are waiting on broadband near federal land, the agencies reviewing those permits now answer to a team with review goals and oversight.
Who this affects
Rural residents without broadband · Wireless and broadband carriers · Federal land managers
What changes is this bill making?
1The strike force must set goals for how fast agencies review communications use authorizations, then monitor and hold agencies accountable for meeting them.
2Members include the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the head of each federal land management agency, plus Agriculture and Interior designees.
3The strike force holds periodic calls with its members to keep every agency prioritizing these reviews.
4It must report to Congress on how effective it has been.
Read the detailed summary
Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act This bill establishes an interagency strike force to support federal land management agencies' review of requests for communications use authorizations. (A communications use authorization is required to modify or locate communications facilities on public lands.) The strike force must (1) conduct periodic calls with strike force members to ensure that each agency prioritizes the review of requests for communications use authorizations, (2) establish goals for the review of the requests, and (3) monitor and facilitate agency accountability for meeting the established goals.
The bill specifies that the strike force must include the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the head of each federal land management agency, and other members designated by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior.
The bill also requires the strike force to report to Congress regarding its effectiveness.
