Coastal Broadband Deployment Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3311 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3311

   To provide that a project for the deployment or modification of a 
communications facility entirely within a floodplain is not subject to 
      requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical 
                         preservation reviews.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 15, 2023

  Mr. Bilirakis (for himself and Mr. Dunn of Florida) 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 provide that a project for the deployment or modification of a 
communications facility entirely within a floodplain is not subject to 
      requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical 
                         preservation reviews.

    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 ``Coastal Broadband Deployment Act''.

SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO FLOODPLAINS.

    (a) NEPA Exemption.--A Federal authorization with respect to a 
covered project 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 covered 
project may not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of 
title 54, United States Code.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
            (2) Communications facility.--The term ``communications 
        facility'' has the meaning given the term ``communications 
        facility installation'' in section 6409(d) of the Middle Class 
        Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1455(d)).
            (3) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a 
        project--
                    (A) for the deployment or modification of a 
                communications facility that is to be carried out 
                entirely within a floodplain (as defined in section 9.4 
                of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect 
                on the date of the enactment of this Act); and
                    (B) for which a permit, license, or approval from 
                the Commission is required or that is otherwise subject 
                to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
            (4) Federal authorization.--The term ``Federal 
        authorization''--
                    (A) means any authorization required under Federal 
                law with respect to a covered 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 covered project.
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