,i  #aagth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #ccgj  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,may #bj1 #bjba,mr4  
,curtis 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,westerman1  
,mr4 ,mc,kinley1 ,mr4 ,upton1 ,mr4      
,wittman1 and ,mr4 ,armstrong7          
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on ,natural 
,resources1 and in addition to the      
,committees on ,agriculture1 and ,energy
 and ,commerce1 for a period to be      
subsequently determined by the ,speaker1
 in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the           
jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
,a ,,bill  ,to streamline the broadband 
permitting process for broadband        
services1 and for other purposes4  #a4  
,short title ,this ,act may be cited as 
the ,broadband ,permitting              
,modernization ,act4  #b4 ,table of     
contents ,the table of contents for this
 ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short   
title4,sec4 #b4 ,table of contents4,sec4
 #c4 ,enhancing ,administrative ,reviews

 for ,broadband ,deployment ,act4,sec4  
#d4 ,,digital ,applications ,act4,sec4  
#e4 ,facilitating ,,digital             
,applications ,act4,sec4 #f4 ,rural     
,broadband ,permitting ,efficiency ,act 
of #bjba4  #c4 ,enhancing               
,administrative ,reviews for ,broadband 
,deployment ,act  7a7 ,short title ,this
 section may be cited as the ,enhancing 
,administrative ,reviews for ,broadband 
,deployment ,act4  7b7 ,enabling        
administrative review  7#a7 ,definitions
 ,in this section3 7,a7 ,appropriate    
committees of ,congress ,the term       
appropriate committees of ,congress     
means-- 7i7 the ,committee on ,energy   
and ,commerce of the ,house of          
,representatives2  7ii7 the ,committee  
on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of 
,representatives2  7iii7 the ,committee 
on ,commerce1 ,science1 and             
,transportation of the ,senate2 and     
7iv7 the ,committee on ,environment and 
,public ,works of the ,senate4  7,b7    
,communications facility ,the term      

communications facility includes-- 7i7  
any infrastructure1 including any       
transmitting device1 tower1 or support  
structure1 and any equipment1 switch1   
wiring1 cabling1 power source1 shelter1 
or cabinet1 associated with the licensed
 or permitted unlicensed wireless or    
wireline transmission of any writing1   
sign1 signal1 data1 image1 picture1 or  
sound of any kind2 and  7ii7 any antenna
 or apparatus that-- 7,i7 is designed   
for the purpose of emitting radio       
frequency2  7,,ii7 is designed to be    
operated1 or is operating1 from a fixed 
location pursuant to authorization by   
the ,commission or is using a duly      
authorized device that does not require 
an individual license2 and  7,,iii7 is  
added to a tower1 building1 or other    
structure4  7,c7 ,communications site   
,the term communications site means an  
area of covered land designated for     
communications uses4  7,d7              
,communications use ,the term           
communications use means the placement  

and operation of a communications       
facility4  7,e7 ,communications use     
authorization ,the term communications  
use authorization means an easement1    
right-of-way1 lease1 license1 or other  
authorization to locate or modify a     
communications facility on covered land 
by the ,department concerned for the    
primary purpose of authorizing the      
occupancy and use of the covered land   
for communications use4  7,f7 ,covered  
land ,the term covered land means-- 7i7 
public land administered by the         
,secretary of the ,interior2 and  7ii7  
,national ,forest ,system land4  7,g7   
,department concerned ,the term         
,department concerned means the         
,department of the ,interior or the     
,department of ,agriculture4  7,h7      
,organizational unit ,the term          
organizational unit means-- 7i7 with    
respect to public land administered by  
the ,secretary of the ,interior-- 7,i7 a
 ,state office2  7,,ii7 a district      
office2 or  7,,iii7 a field office2 and 

7ii7 within the ,forest ,service-- 7,i7 
a regional office2  7,,ii7 the          
headquarters2  7,,iii7 a management     
unit2 or  7,,iv7 a ranger district      
office4  7,i7 ,secretary concerned ,the 
term ,secretary concerned means-- 7i7   
the ,secretary of the ,interior1 with   
respect to public land2 and  7ii7 the   
,secretary of ,agriculture1 with respect
 to ,national ,forest ,system land4     
7#b7 ,study required ,not later than #a 
year after the date of enactment of this
 ,act1 the ,secretary concerned shall   
submit to the appropriate committees of 
,congress a report that-- 7,a7 provides 
an assessment on programmatic or        
administrative barriers to reviewing    
communications use authorizations by the
 ,department concerned or organizational
 units of the ,department concerned2    
7,b7 provides an assessment whether     
there are rules or regulations of the   
,department concerned that could be     
revised to improve the efficiency of    
reviewing a communications use          

authorization2  7,c7 describes the      
process for prioritizing the review of a
 communications use authorization2 and  
7,d7 provides a plan to ensure adequate 
staffing throughout organizational units
 of the ,department concerned to review 
communications use authorizations in a  
timely manner4  #d4 ,,digital           
,applications ,act  7a7 ,short title    
,this section may be cited as the       
,deploying ,infrastructure with ,greater
 ,internet ,transactions ,and ,legacy   
,applications ,act or the ,,digital     
,applications ,act4  7b7 ,establishment 
of an online portal for ,form #bii  7#a7
 ,definitions ,in this section3 7,a7    
,appropriate committees of congress ,the
 term appropriate committees of         
,congress means-- 7i7 the ,committee on 
,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of  
,representatives2  7ii7 the ,committee  
on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of 
,representatives2  7iii7 the ,committee 
on ,commerce1 ,science1 and             
,transportation of the ,senate2 and     

7iv7 the ,committee on ,environment and 
,public ,works of the ,senate4  7,b7    
,assistant secretary ,the term          
,assistant ,secretary means the         
,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for  
,communications and ,information4  7,c7 
,department concerned ,the term         
,department concerned means the         
,department of the ,interior or the     
,department of ,agriculture4  7,d7 ,form
 #bii ,the term ,form #bii means the    
form established under section          
#fdji7;b77#b77;,a7 of the ,middle ,class
 ,tax ,relief and ,job ,creation ,act of
 #bjab 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4                   
#adee7;b77#b77;,a77 or any successor    
form4  7,e7 ,secretary concerned ,the   
term ,secretary concerned means-- 7i7   
the ,secretary of the ,interior1 with   
respect to land administered by such    
,secretary2 and  7ii7 the ,secretary of 
,agriculture1 with respect to ,national 
,forest ,system land4  7#b7             
,establishment of online portal  7,a7   
,establishment ,not later than #a year  

after the date of enactment of this     
,act1 the ,secretary concerned shall    
establish an online portal for the      
acceptance1 processing1 and disposal of 
a ,form #bii4  7,b7 ,notification ,not  
later than #c business days after the   
date on which the online portal has been
 established pursuant to subparagraph   
7,a71 the ,secretary concerned shall    
notify the ,assistant ,secretary of such
 establishment4  7#c7 ,availability of  
online portal ,the ,assistant ,secretary
 shall publish on the website of the    
,national ,telecommunications and       
,information ,administration a link to  
each online portal established pursuant 
to paragraph 7#a77;,a74  #e4            
,facilitating ,,digital ,applications   
,act  7a7 ,short title ,this section may
 be cited as the ,facilitating the      
,deployment of ,infrastructure with     
,greater ,internet ,transactions ,and   
,legacy ,applications ,act or the       
,facilitating ,,digital ,applications   
,act4  7b7 ,barriers to implementation  

of an online portal for ,form #bii  7#a7
 ,definitions ,in this section3 7,a7    
,appropriate committees of congress ,the
 term appropriate committees of         
,congress means-- 7i7 the ,committee on 
,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of  
,representatives2  7ii7 the ,committee  
on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of 
,representatives2  7iii7 the ,committee 
on ,commerce1 ,science1 and             
,transportation of the ,senate2 and     
7iv7 the ,committee on ,environment and 
,public ,works of the ,senate4  7,b7    
,assistant secretary ,the term          
,assistant ,secretary means the         
,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for  
,communications and ,information4  7,c7 
,communications facility ,the term      
communications facility includes-- 7i7  
any infrastructure1 including any       
transmitting device1 tower1 or support  
structure1 and any equipment1 switch1   
wiring1 cabling1 power source1 shelter1 
or cabinet1 associated with the licensed
 or permitted unlicensed wireless or    

wireline transmission of any writing1   
sign1 signal1 data1 image1 picture1 and 
sound of any kind2 and  7ii7 any antenna
 or apparatus that-- 7,i7 is designed   
for the purpose of emitting radio       
frequency2  7,,ii7 is designed to be    
operated1 or is operating1 from a fixed 
location pursuant to authorization by   
the ,commission or is using a duly      
authorized device that does not require 
an individual license2 and  7,,iii7 is  
added to a tower1 building1 or other    
structure4  7,d7 ,communications use    
,the term communications use means the  
placement and operation of a            
communications facility4  7,e7          
,communications use authorization ,the  
term communications use authorization   
means an easement1 right-of-way1 lease1 
license1 or other authorization to      
locate or modify a communications       
facility on covered land by the         
,department concerned for the primary   
purpose of authorizing the occupancy and
 use of the covered land for            

communications use4  7,f7 ,covered land 
,the term covered land means-- 7i7      
public land administered by the         
,secretary of the ,interior2 and  7ii7  
,national ,forest ,system land4  7,g7   
,department concerned ,the term         
,department concerned means the         
,department of the ,interior or the     
,department of ,agriculture4  7,h7 ,form
 #bii ,the term ,form #bii means the    
form established under section          
#fdji7;b77#b77;,a7 of the ,middle ,class
 ,tax ,relief and ,job ,creation ,act of
 #bjab 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4                   
#adee7;b77#b77;,a771 or any successor   
form4  7,i7 ,secretary concerned ,the   
term ,secretary concerned means-- 7i7   
the ,secretary of the ,interior1 with   
respect to land administered by such    
,secretary2 and  7ii7 the ,secretary of 
,agriculture1 with respect to ,national 
,forest ,system land4  7#b7 ,barriers to
 implementation  7,a7 ,in general ,not  
later than #ij days after the date of   
enactment of this section1 and every #fj

 days thereafter until the notification 
described in subparagraph 7,b71 the     
,assistant ,secretary shall submit to   
the appropriate committees in ,congress 
a report that-- 7i7 describes whether   
the ,department concerned has           
established an online portal for the    
acceptance1 processing1 and disposal of 
a ,form #bii2 and  7ii7 describes any   
barrier to the establishment of an      
online portal for the acceptance1       
processing1 and disposal of a ,form     
#bii4  7,b7 ,notification described ,the
 ,secretary concerned shall notify the  
,assistant ,secretary not later than #c 
business days after the ,department     
concerned has established an online     
portal for the acceptance1 processing1  
and disposal of a ,form #bii4  #f4      
,rural ,broadband ,permitting           
,efficiency ,act of #bjba  7a7 ,short   
title ,this section may be cited as the 
,rural ,broadband ,permitting           
,efficiency ,act of #bjba4  7b7         
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     

,broadband project ,the term broadband  
project means an installation by a      
broadband provider of wireless or       
broadband infrastructure1 including but 
not limited to1 copper lines1 fiber     
optic lines1 communications towers1     
buildings1 or other improvements on     
,federal land4  7#b7 ,broadband provider
 ,the term broadband provider means a   
provider of wireless or broadband       
infrastructure that enables a user to   
originate and receive high-quality      
voice1 data1 graphics1 and video        
telecommunications4  7#c7 ,indian lands 
,the term ,indian ,lands means-- 7,a7   
any land owned by an ,indian ,tribe1    
located within the boundaries of an     
,indian reservation1 pueblo1 or         
rancheria2 or  7,b7 any land located    
within the boundaries of an ,indian     
reservation1 pueblo1 or rancheria1 the  
title to which is held-- 7i7 in trust by
 the ,united ,states for the benefit of 
an ,indian ,tribe or an individual      
,indian2  7ii7 by an ,indian ,tribe or  

an individual ,indian1 subject to       
restriction against alienation under    
laws of the ,united ,states2 or  7iii7  
by a dependent ,indian community4  7#d7 
,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe 
means a federally recognized ,indian    
,tribe4  7#e7 ,operational right-of-way 
,the term operational right-of-way means
 all real property interests 7including 
easements7 acquired for the construction
 or operation of a project1 including   
the locations of the roadway1 bridges1  
interchanges1 culverts1 drainage1 clear 
zone1 traffic control signage1          
landscaping1 copper and fiber optic     
lines1 utility shelters1 and broadband  
infrastructure as installed by broadband
 providers1 and any rest areas with     
direct access to a controlled access    
highway or the ,national ,highway       
,system4  7#f7 ,secretary concerned ,the
 term ,secretary concerned means-- 7,a7 
the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7acting  
through the ,chief of the ,forest       
,service71 with respect to ,national    

,forest ,system land2 and  7,b7 the     
,secretary of the ,interior1 with       
respect to land managed by the          
,department of the ,interior 7including 
land held in trust for an ,indian       
,tribe74  7c7 ,state or ,tribal         
permitting authority  7#a7 ,in general  
,the ,secretary concerned shall         
establish 7or in the case where both    
,department of the ,interior and        
,national ,forest ,system land would be 
affected1 shall jointly establish7 a    
voluntary program under which any ,state
 or ,indian ,tribe may offer1 and the   
,secretary concerned may agree1 to enter
 into a memorandum of understanding to  
allow for the ,state or ,indian ,tribe  
to prepare environmental analyses       
required under the ,national            
,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi    
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 for the   
permitting of broadband projects within 
an operational right-of-way on ,national
 ,forest ,system land1 land managed by  
the ,department of the ,interior1 and   

,indian ,lands4 ,under such a memorandum
 of understanding1 an ,indian ,tribe or 
,state may volunteer to cooperate with  
the signatories to the memorandum in the
 preparation of the analyses required   
under the ,national ,environmental      
,policy ,act of #aifi4  7#b7 ,assumption
 of responsibilities  7,a7 ,in general  
,in entering into a memorandum of       
understanding under this subsection1 the
 ,secretary concerned may assign to the 
,state or ,indian ,tribe1 and the ,state
 or ,indian ,tribe may agree to assume1 
all or part of the responsibilities of  
the ,secretary concerned for            
environmental analyses under the        
,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of
 #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474   
7,b7 ,state or ,indian ,tribe           
responsibility  7i7 ,in general ,a      
,state or ,indian ,tribe that assumes   
any responsibility under subparagraph   
7,a7 shall be subject to the same       
procedural and substantive requirements 
as would apply if the responsibility    

were carried out by the ,secretary      
concerned4  7ii7 ,effect of assumption  
of responsibility ,a ,state or ,indian  
,tribe that assumes any responsibility1 
including financial responsibility1     
under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be solely 
responsible and solely liable for       
carrying out1 in lieu of the ,secretary 
concerned1 the responsibilities assumed 
under that subparagraph until the date  
on which the program is terminated under
 paragraph 7#g74  7iii7 ,environmental  
review ,a ,state or ,indian ,tribe that 
assumes any responsibility under        
subparagraph 7,a7 shall comply with the 
environmental review procedures under   
parts #aejj-aejh of title #dj1 ,code of 
,federal ,regulations 7or successor     
regulations71 and the regulations of the
 ,secretary concerned4  7,c7 ,federal   
responsibility ,any responsibility of   
the ,secretary concerned described in   
subparagraph 7,a7 that is not explicitly
 assumed by the ,state or ,indian ,tribe
 in the memorandum of understanding     

shall remain the responsibility of the  
,secretary concerned4  7#c7 ,offer and  
notification ,a ,state or ,indian ,tribe
 that intends to offer to enter into a  
memorandum of understanding under this  
subsection shall provide to the         
,secretary concerned notice of the      
intent of the ,state or ,indian ,tribe  
not later than #ij days before the date 
on which the ,state or ,indian ,tribe   
submits a formal written offer to the   
,secretary concerned4  7#d7 ,tribal     
consultation ,within #ij days of        
entering into any memorandum of         
understanding with a ,state1 the        
,secretary concerned shall initiate     
consultation with relevant ,indian      
,tribes4  7#e7 ,memorandum of           
understanding ,a memorandum of          
understanding entered into under this   
subsection shall-- 7,a7 be executed by  
the ,governor or the ,governor's        
designee1 or in the case of an ,indian  
,tribe1 by an officer designated by the 
governing body of the ,indian ,tribe2   

7,b7 be for a term not to exceed #aj    
years2  7,c7 be in such form as the     
,secretary concerned may prescribe2     
7,d7 provide that the ,state or ,indian 
,tribe-- 7i7 agrees to assume all or    
part of the responsibilities of the     
,secretary concerned described in       
paragraph 7#b77;,a72  7ii7 expressly    
consents1 including through the adoption
 of express waivers of sovereign        
immunity1 on behalf of the ,state or    
,indian ,tribe1 to accept the           
jurisdiction of the ,federal courts for 
the compliance1 discharge1 and          
enforcement of any responsibility of the
 ,secretary concerned assumed by the    
,state or ,indian ,tribe2  7iii7 certify
 that ,state laws and regulations1 with 
respect to ,states1 or ,tribal laws and 
regulations1 with respect to ,indian    
,tribes1 are in effect that-- 7,i7      
authorize the ,state or ,indian ,tribe  
to take the actions necessary to carry  
out the responsibilities being assumed2 
and  7,,ii7 are comparable to section   

#eeb of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1
 including providing that any decision  
regarding the public availability of a  
document under the ,state laws is       
reviewable by a court of competent      
jurisdiction2  7iv7 agrees to maintain  
the financial resources necessary to    
carry out the responsibilities being    
assumed2  7v7 agrees to provide to the  
,secretary concerned any information the
 ,secretary concerned considers         
necessary to ensure that the ,state or  
,indian ,tribe is adequately carrying   
out the responsibilities assigned to and
 assumed by the ,state or ,indian       
,tribe2  7vi7 agrees to return revenues 
generated from the use of public lands  
authorized under this section to the    
,united ,states annually1 in accordance 
with the ,federal ,land ,policy         
,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4
 #agja et seq472 and  7vii7 agrees to   
send a copy of all authorizing documents
 to the ,united ,states for proper      
notation and recordkeeping2  7,e7       

prioritize and expedite any analyses    
under the ,national ,environmental      
,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#dcba et seq47 under the memorandum of  
understanding2  7,f7 not be granted to a
 ,state on ,indian ,lands without the   
consent of the relevant ,indian ,tribe2 
and  7,g7 not be granted to an ,indian  
,tribe on ,state lands without the      
consent of the relevant ,state4  7#f7   
,limitation ,nothing in this subsection 
permits a ,state or ,indian ,tribe to   
assume-- 7,a7 any rulemaking authority  
of the ,secretary concerned under any   
,federal law2 and  7,b7 ,federal        
,government responsibilities for        
government-to-government consultation   
with ,indian ,tribes4  7#g7 ,termination
  7,a7 ,termination by the ,secretary   
,the ,secretary concerned may terminate 
the participation of any ,state or      
,indian ,tribe in the program           
established under this subsection if--  
7i7 the ,secretary concerned determines 
that the ,state or ,indian ,tribe is not

 adequately carrying out the            
responsibilities assigned to and assumed
 by the ,state or ,indian ,tribe2  7ii7 
the ,secretary concerned provides to the
 ,state or ,indian ,tribe-- 7,i7        
notification of the determination of    
noncompliance2 and  7,,ii7 a period of  
at least #cj days during which to take  
such corrective action as the ,secretary
 concerned determines is necessary to   
comply with the applicable agreement2   
and  7iii7 the ,state or ,indian ,tribe1
 after the notification and period      
provided under clause 7ii71 fails to    
take satisfactory corrective action1 as 
determined by the ,secretary concerned4 
7,b7 ,termination by the ,state or      
,indian ,tribe ,a ,state or ,indian     
,tribe may terminate the participation  
of the ,state or ,indian ,tribe in the  
program established under this          
subsection at any time by providing to  
the ,secretary concerned a notice of    
intent to terminate by not later than   
the date that is #ij days before the    

date of termination4  7,c7 ,termination 
of memorandum of understanding with     
,state or ,indian ,tribe ,a ,state or an
 ,indian ,tribe may terminate a joint   
memorandum of understanding under this  
subsection at any time by providing to  
the ,secretary concerned a notice of    
intent to terminate by no later than the
 date that is #ij days before the date  
of termination4  7d7 ,federal broadband 
permit coordination  7#a7 ,establishment
 ,the ,secretary concerned shall        
establish a broadband permit            
streamlining team comprised of qualified
 staff under paragraph 7#b77;,d7 in each
 ,state or regional office that has been
 delegated responsibility for issuing   
permits for broadband projects4  7#b7   
,memorandum of understanding  7,a7 ,in  
general ,not later than #ij days after  
the date of enactment of this ,act1 the 
,secretary concerned1 in consultation   
with the ,national ,conference of ,state
 ,historic ,preservation ,officers and  
the ,national ,tribal ,historic         

,preservation ,officers ,association1   
shall enter into a memorandum of        
understanding to carry out this         
subsection with-- 7i7 the ,secretary of 
,agriculture or of the ,interior1 as    
appropriate2  7ii7 the ,director of the 
,bureau of ,indian ,affairs2 and  7iii7 
the ,director of the ,united ,states    
,fish and ,wildlife ,service4  7,b7     
,purpose ,the purpose of the memorandum 
of understanding under subparagraph 7,a7
 is to coordinate and expedite          
permitting decisions for broadband      
projects4  7,c7 ,state or ,tribal       
participation ,the ,secretary concerned 
may request that the ,governor of any   
,state or the officer designated by the 
governing body of the ,indian ,tribe    
with one or more broadband projects be a
 party to the memorandum of             
understanding under subparagraph 7,a74  
7,d7 ,designation of qualified staff    
7i7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days
 after the date of entrance into the    
memorandum of understanding under       

subparagraph 7,a71 the head of each     
,federal agency that is a party to the  
memorandum of understanding 7other than 
the ,secretary concerned7 may1 if the   
head of the ,federal agency determines  
it to be appropriate1 designate to each 
,state or regional office an employee of
 that ,federal agency with expertise in 
regulatory issues relating to that      
,federal agency1 including1 as          
applicable1 particular expertise in--   
7,i7 planning under the ,forest and     
,rangeland ,renewable ,resources        
,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4  
#afjj et seq47 and planning under the   
,federal ,land ,policy and ,management  
,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et   
seq472  7,,ii7 the preparation of       
analyses under the ,national            
,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi    
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 or       
7,,iii7 consultation and the preparation
 of biological opinions under section #g
 of the ,endangered ,species ,act of    
#aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecf74  7ii7      

,duties ,each employee designated under 
clause 7i7 shall-- 7,i7 be responsible  
for any issue relating to any broadband 
project within the jurisdiction of the  
,state or regional office under the     
authority of the ,federal agency from   
which the employee is assigned2  7,,ii7 
participate as part of the team of      
personnel working on one or more        
proposed broadband projects1 including  
planning and environmental analyses2 and
  7,,iii7 serve as the designated point 
of contact with any applicable ,state or
 ,indian ,tribe that assumes any        
responsibility under subsection         
7c77#b77;,a7 relating to any issue      
described in subclause 7,a74