Reducing Barriers for Broadband on Federal Lands Act of 2023

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3297 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3297

     To ensure that certain broadband projects are not subject to 
      requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical 
             preservation reviews, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 15, 2023

 Mr. Fulcher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Natural Resources, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To ensure that certain broadband projects are not subject to 
      requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical 
             preservation reviews, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reducing Barriers for Broadband on 
Federal Lands Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN BROADBAND PROJECTS.

    (a) NEPA Exemption.--The issuance of a Federal authorization with 
respect to a broadband project carried out in a right-of-way may not be 
considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
    (b) National Historic Preservation Act Exemption.--A broadband 
project carried out in a right-of-way may not be considered an 
undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Broadband project.--The term ``broadband project'' 
        means an installation, by a broadband provider on Federal land, 
        of wireline or wireless broadband infrastructure that enables a 
        user to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, 
        graphics, and video telecommunications, including copper lines, 
        fiber optic lines, communications towers, buildings, or other 
        improvements.
            (2) Broadband provider.--The term ``broadband provider'' 
        means a provider of wireline or wireless broadband 
        infrastructure that enables a user to originate and receive 
        high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video 
        telecommunications.
            (3) Federal authorization.--The term ``Federal 
        authorization''--
                    (A) means any authorization required under Federal 
                law with respect to a project; and
                    (B) includes any permits, special use 
                authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other 
                approvals as may be required under Federal law with 
                respect to a project.
            (4) Right-of-way.--The term ``right-of-way''--
                    (A) means--
                            (i) the area on, below, or above a roadway, 
                        highway, street, sidewalk, alley, or similar 
                        property (whether currently or previously used 
                        in such manner); and
                            (ii) any land immediately adjacent to and 
                        contiguous with property described in clause 
                        (i) that is within the right-of-way grant; and
                    (B) does not include a portion of the Interstate 
                System (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of 
                title 23, United States Code).
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