,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #fjd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #i1 #bjag ,mr4    
,hat* 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,da9es1 & ,mrs4  
,fis*]7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,environm5t & ,public ,works  ,a ,,bill 
,to all[ c]ta9 ,/ate p]mitt+ au?ority to
 enc\rage expansion ( broadb& s]vice to 
rural communities1 & = o!r purposes4    
#a4 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act may be cit$ z
 ! ,highway ,rights-(-,way ,p]mitt+     
,effici5cy ,act ( #bjag4  #b4 ,f9d+s    
,congress f9ds t1 z ( ! date ( enactm5t 
( ?is ,act-- 7#a7 ! ,unit$ ,/ates has   
be5 ! _w lead] 9 ,int]net &             
telecommunications te*nology gr[?1 & ! p
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates n[ rely on broadb&   
connectivity z an increas+ly necess>y "p
 ( daily life2  7#b7 broadb& s]vices are
 us$ by private citiz5s1 bus9esses1     
public gr\ps1 & gov]nm5t ag5cies ?r\gh\t
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates to communicate1 access 
in=mation1 %>e cultures1 develop        
te*nologies1 & gr[ economies nationally 

& int]nationally2  7#c7 :ile wireless & 
broadb& te*nologies h contribut$        
significantly to progress ?r\gh\t !     
,unit$ ,/ates1 lack ( broadb& deploym5t 
to rural communities has put rural      
p>ties at a great] disadvantage =       
economic developm5t2 &  7#d7 delays 9 ! 
p]mitt+ process are co/ly & disc\rag+ to
 broadb& deploym5t & fur!r disc\rage    
broadb& deploym5t to rural areas4  #c4  
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,broadb&  
project ,! t]m broadb& project means a  
project "u :i* a broadb& provid] in/alls
 broadb& infra/ructure1 includ+ copp]   
l9es or fib] optic l9es1 on ,f$]al l&4  
7#b7 ,broadb& provid] ,! t]m broadb&    
provid] means a facilities-bas$ provid] 
( broadb& capability t enables a us] to 
orig9ate & receive high-quality voice1  
data1 graphics1 & video                 
telecommunications4  7#c7 ,op]ational   
"r-(-way ,! t]m op]ational "r-(-way     
means all real prop]ty int]e/s 7includ+ 
easem5ts7 acquir$ = ! con/ruction or    
op]ation ( a project1 includ+ !         

locations ( ! roadway1 bridges1         
int]*anges1 culv]ts1 dra9age1 cle> zone1
 traffic control signage1 l&scap+1 copp]
 & fib] optic l9es1 utility %elt]s1 &   
broadb& infra/ructure z in/all$ by      
broadb& provid]s1 & any re/ areas )     
direct access to a controll$ access     
highway or ! ,national ,highway ,sy/em4 
7#d7 ,project ,! t]m project has ! mean+
 giv5 ! t]m 9 section #aja7;a7 ( title  
#bc1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#e7         
,secret>y conc]n$ ,! t]m ,secret>y      
conc]n$ means--  7,a7 ! ,secret>y (     
,agriculture 7act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( !    
,=e/ ,s]vice71 ) respect to ,national   
,=e/ ,sy/em l&2 &  7,b7 ! ,secret>y ( ! 
,int]ior1 ) respect to l& manag$ by !   
,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t 7includ+ l&    
held = ! b5efit ( an ,indian tribe74    
#d4 ,/ate p]mitt+ au?ority  7a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,! ,secret>ies conc]n$ %all jo9tly     
e/abli% a program "u :i* any ,/ate may  
(f]1 & ! ,secret>y conc]n$ %all agree1  
to ent] into a memor&um ( und]/&+ ) !   
,secret>y conc]n$ to all[ = ! p]mitt+ ( 

broadb& )9 an op]ational "r-(-way 9     
accordance ) ?is section4  7b7          
,assumption ( responsibilities  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,9 ent]+ into a memor&um ( und]/&+
 "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y conc]n$ may
 assign to ! ,/ate1 & ! ,/ate may agree 
to assume1 all or "p ( !                
responsibilities ( ! ,secret>y conc]n$ =
 environm5tal review1 consultation1 or  
o!r action requir$ "u any ,f$]al        
environm5tal law p]ta9+ to ! review or  
approval ( a specific op]ational        
"r-(-way broadb& project4  7#b7 ,/ate   
responsibility  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,a ,/ate t
 assumes any responsibility "u p>agraph 
7#a7 %all be subject to ! same proc$ural
 & sub/antive requirem5ts z w\ld apply  
if ! responsibility 7 c>ri$ out by !    
,secret>y conc]n$4  7,b7 ,effect (      
assumption ( responsibility ,a ,/ate t  
assumes any responsibility "u p>agraph  
7#a7 %all be solely responsible & solely
 liable = c>ry+ out1 9 lieu ( !         
,secret>y conc]n$1 ! responsibilities   
assum$ "u t p>agraph until date on :i* !

 program is t]m9at$ "u subsection 7f74  
7,c7 ,environm5tal review ,a ,/ate t    
assumes any responsibility "u p>agraph  
7#a7 %all comply ) ! environm5tal review
 proc$ures "u "p #gga ( title #bc1 ,code
 ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or successor    
regulations74  7#c7 ,f$]al              
responsibility ,any responsibility ( !  
,secret>y conc]n$ describ$ 9 p>agraph   
7#a7 t is n explicitly assum$ by ! ,/ate
 9 ! memor&um ( und]/&+ %all rema9 !    
responsibility ( ! ,secret>y conc]n$4   
7c7 ,(f] & notification ,a ,/ate t      
int5ds to (f] to ent] into a memor&um ( 
und]/&+ "u ?is section %all provide to !
 ,secret>y conc]n$ notice ( ! int5t ( ! 
,/ate n lat] ?an #ij days be=e ! date on
 :i* ! ,/ate submits a =mal writt5 (f]  
to ! ,secret>y conc]n$4  7d7 ,memor&um (
 und]/&+ ,a memor&um ( und]/&+ ent]$    
into "u ?is section %all-- 7#a7 be      
execut$ by ! ,gov]nor or ! top-rank+    
transportation (ficial 9 ! ,/ate :o is  
*>g$ ) responsibility = highway         
con/ruction2  7#b7 be = a t]m n to exce$

 #aj ye>s2  7#c7 be 9 su* =m z !        
,secret>y conc]n$ may prescribe2 &  7#d7
 provide t ! ,/ate-- 7,a7 agrees to     
assume all or "p ( ! responsibilities ( 
! ,secret>y conc]n$ describ$ 9          
subsection 7b77#a72  7,b7 expressly     
cons5ts1 on behalf ( ! ,/ate1 to accept 
! jurisdiction ( ! ,f$]al c\rts = !     
compliance1 dis*>ge1 & en=cem5t ( any   
responsibility ( ! ,secret>y conc]n$    
assum$ by ! ,/ate2  7,c7 c]tifies t     
,/ate laws 7includ+ regulations7 are 9  
effect t-- 7i7 au?orize ! ,/ate to take 
! actions necess>y to c>ry out !        
responsibilities be+ assum$2 &  7ii7 are
 comp>able to section #eeb ( title #e1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 includ+ provid+ t  
any decision reg>d+ ! public            
availability ( a docum5t "u ! ,/ate laws
 is reviewable by a c\rt ( compet5t     
jurisdiction2  7,d7 agrees to ma9ta9 !  
f9ancial res\rces necess>y to c>ry out !
 responsibilities be+ assum$2 &  7,e7   
agrees to provide to ! ,secret>y conc]n$
 any in=mation ! ,secret>y conc]n$      

consid]s necess>y to ensure t ! ,/ate is
 adequately c>ry+ out ! responsibilities
 assign$ to & assum$ by ! ,/ate4  7e7   
,limitation ,no?+ 9 ?is section p]mits a
 ,/ate to assume any rulemak+ au?ority (
 ! ,secret>y conc]n$ "u any ,f$]al law4 
7f7 ,t]m9ation  7#a7 ,t]m9ation by !    
,secret>y ,! ,secret>y conc]n$ may      
t]m9ate ! p>ticipation ( any ,/ate 9 !  
program e/abli%$ "u ?is section if--    
7,a7 ! ,secret>y conc]n$ det]m9es t !   
,/ate is n adequately c>ry+ out !       
responsibilities assign$ to & assum$ by 
! ,/ate2  7,b7 ! ,secret>y conc]n$      
provides to ! ,/ate-- 7i7 notification (
 ! det]m9ation ( noncompliance2 &  7ii7 
a p]iod ( at lea/ #cj days dur+ :i* to  
take su* corrective action z ! ,secret>y
 conc]n$ det]m9es is necess>y to comply 
) ! applicable agreem5t2 &  7,c7 !      
,/ate1 aft] ! notification & p]iod      
provid$ "u subp>agraph 7,b71 fails to   
take satisfactory corrective action1 z  
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y conc]n$4  7#b7   
,t]m9ation by ! ,/ate ,a ,/ate may      

t]m9ate ! p>ticipation ( ! ,/ate 9 !    
program e/abli%$ "u ?is section at any  
"t by provid+ to ! ,secret>y conc]n$ a  
notice ( int5t to t]m9ate by n lat] ?an 
! date t is #ij days be=e ! date (      
t]m9ation4  #e4 ,categorical exclusion =
 projects )9 op]ational rights-(-way ,! 
,secret>y conc]n$ %all-- 7#a7 n lat] ?an
 #ahj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is 
,act1 designate any project )9 an exi/+ 
op]ational "r-(-way z an action         
categorically exclud$ f ! requirem5ts   
relat+ to environm5tal assessm5ts or    
environm5tal impact /atem5ts "u section 
#aejh4d ( title #dj1 ,code ( ,f$]al     
,regulations1 & section #gga4aag7;c7 (  
title #bc1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations  
7or successor regulations72 &  7#b7 n   
lat] ?an #aej days aft] ! date (        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 promulgate         
regulations to c>ry out p>agraph 7#a74  
#f4 ,f$]al broadb& p]mit coord9ation    
7a7 ,def9ition ( ,secret>y ,9 ?is       
section1 ! t]m ,secret>y means !        
,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior4  7b7 ,e/abli%m5t

 ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a ,f$]al     
,p]mit ,/reaml9+ ,project 9 ea* ,bureau 
( ,l& ,managem5t field (fice )          
responsibility = issu+ p]mits = broadb& 
projects4  7c7 ,memor&um ( und]/&+  7#a7
 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] !   
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y1
 9 consultation ) ! ,national ,conf]5ce 
( ,/ate ,hi/oric ,pres]vation ,(fic]s1  
%all ent] into a memor&um ( und]/&+ to  
c>ry out ?is section )--  7,a7 !        
,secret>y ( ,agriculture2  7,b7 !       
,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal          
,protection ,ag5cy2  7,c7 ! ,adm9i/rator
 ( ! ,f$]al ,highway ,adm9i/ration2 &   
7,d7 ! ,director ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% 
& ,wildlife ,s]vice4  7#b7 ,lead ag5cy  
,z "p ( ! memor&um ( und]/&+ "u p>agraph
 7#a71 ! ,secret>y %all act z ! lead    
ag5cy 9 issu+ a s+le p]mit = ea* broadb&
 project on behalf ( all ,f$]al ag5cies 
involv$ 9 ! broadb& project4  7#c7 ,/ate
 p>ticipation ,! ,secret>y may reque/ t 
! ,gov]nor ( any ,/ate ) "o or m broadb&
 projects be a p>ty to ! memor&um (     

und]/&+ "u p>agraph 7#a74  7#d7         
,designation ( qualifi$ /aff  7,a7 ,9   
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date (
 entrance into ! memor&um ( und]/&+ "u  
p>agraph 7#a71 ! head ( ea* ,f$]al ag5cy
 t is a p>ty to ! memor&um ( und]/&+    
7o!r ?an ! ,secret>y7 %all1 if ! head ( 
! ,f$]al ag5cy det]m9es x to be         
appropriate1 designate to ea* ,bureau ( 
,l& ,managem5t field (fice an employee (
 t ,f$]al ag5cy ) exp]tise 9 regulatory 
issues relat+ to t ,f$]al ag5cy1        
includ+1 z applicable1 p>ticul> exp]tise
 9--  7i7 plann+ "u ! ,=e/ & ,rangel&   
,r5ewable ,res\rces ,plann+ ,act ( #aigd
 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afjj et seq472  7ii7 ! 
prep>ation ( analyses "u ! ,national    
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472  7iii7        
programs "u *apt] #a & *apt] #b ( title 
#bc1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 or  7iv7      
consultation & ! prep>ation ( biological
 op9ions "u section #g ( ! ,endang]$    
,species ,act ( #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4    
#aecf74  7,b7 ,duties ,ea* employee     

designat$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all-- 7i7
 n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date (      
designation1 report to ! manag] ( !     
,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t field (fice to 
:i* ! employee is assign$2  7ii7 be     
responsible = any issue relat+ to any   
broadb& project )9 ! jurisdiction ( !   
field (fice describ$ 9 clause 7i7 "u !  
au?ority ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy f :i* !       
employee is assign$2  7iii7 p>ticipate z
 "p ( ! team ( p]sonnel work+ on "o or m
 propos$ broadb& projects1 includ+      
plann+ & environm5tal analyses2 &  7iv7 
s]ve z ! designat$ po9t ( contact ) any 
applicable ,/ate t assumes any          
responsibility "u section #d7;b77#a7    
relat+ to any issue describ$ 9 clause   
7ii74  7d7 ,fund+ ,?is section %all be  
c>ri$ out us+ su* am\nts z are necess>y 
f o!r am\nts available t are n o!rwise  
obligat$4