H.R. 1681

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to establish an interagency strike force to ensure that certain Federal land management agencies, including the organizational units of such agencies, prioritize the review of requests for communications use authorizations, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 27, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Evans of Colorado

Table of contents

• H.R. 1681
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Establishment of interagency strike force

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act.

SEC. 2. Establishment of interagency strike force

• (a) Interagency strike force
  • (1) Establishment
    • Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish an interagency strike force to ensure that each Federal land management agency, including each organizational unit of the agency, prioritizes the review of requests for communications use authorizations.
  • (2) Members
    • The strike force shall be composed of—
      • the Assistant Secretary;
      • the head of each Federal land management agency;
      • a designee of the Secretary of Agriculture, other than the Chief of the Forest Service; and
      • a designee of the Secretary of the Interior, other than the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
  • (3) Duties
    • The duties of the strike force shall include—
      • conducting periodic calls between the members of the strike force to ensure that each Federal land management agency, including each organizational unit of the agency, prioritizes the review of requests for communications use authorizations;
      • establishing objective and reasonable goals for the review of requests for communications use authorizations; and
      • monitoring, and facilitating the accountability of, each Federal land management agency, including each organizational unit of the agency, with respect to meeting such goals.
  • (4) Report to Congress
    • Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the effectiveness of the strike force in ensuring that each Federal land management agency, including each organizational unit of the agency, prioritizes the review of requests for communications use authorizations.
• (b) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term appropriate congressional committees means—
    • The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
    • The term communications facility,communications facility installation has the meaning given the term in section 6409(d) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (). 47 U.S.C. 1455(d)
    • The term communications use means the placement and operation of a communications facility.
    • The term communications use authorization means an easement, right-of-way, lease, license, or other authorization—
    • The term covered land means—
    • The term Federal land management agency means each of the following:
    • The term National Forest System has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (). 16 U.S.C. 1609(a)
    • The term organizational unit means—
    • The term public lands has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (). 43 U.S.C. 1702
    • The term strike force means the interagency strike force established under subsection (a)(1).