I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1049 

To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 

Information to establish an interagency strike force to increase 

prioritization by the Department of the Interior and Department of 

Agriculture by senior management of the Department of the Interior 

and Department of Agriculture, or an organizational unit of reviews 

for communications use authorizations. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 

Mr. DUNCAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 

Natural Resources, and Agriculture, 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 require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to establish an interagency 

strike force to increase prioritization by the Department 

of the Interior and Department of Agriculture by senior 

management of the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture, or an organizational unit of 

reviews for communications use authorizations. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Expediting Federal 

3 Broadband Deployment Reviews Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. STRIKE FORCE. 

5 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 (1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON7 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con8 gress’’ means— 

9 (A) the Committee on Energy and Com10 merce of the House of Representatives; 

11 (B) the Committee on Natural Resources 

12 of the House of Representatives; 

13 (C) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

14 and Transportation of the Senate; and 

15 (D) the Committee on Environment and 

16 Public Works of the Senate. 

17 (2) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist18 ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 

19 Commerce for Communications and Information. 

20 (3) COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY.—The term 

21 ‘‘communications facility’’ includes— 

22 (A) any infrastructure, including any 

23 transmitting device, tower, or support structure, 

24 and any equipment, switches, wiring, cabling, 

25 power sources, shelters, or cabinets, associated 

26 with the licensed or permitted unlicensed wireVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:25 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1049.IH H1049

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1 less or wireline transmission of writings, signs, 

2 signals, data, images, pictures, and sounds of 

3 all kinds; and 

4 (B) any antenna or apparatus that— 

5 (i) is designed for the purpose of 

6 emitting radio frequency; 

7 (ii) is designed to be operated, or is 

8 operating, from a fixed location pursuant 

9 to authorization by the Commission or is 

10 using duly authorized devices that do not 

11 require individual licenses; and 

12 (iii) is added to a tower, building, or 

13 other structure. 

14 (4) COMMUNICATIONS USE.—The term ‘‘com15 munications use’’ means the placement and oper16 ation of a communications facility. 

17 (5) COMMUNICATIONS USE AUTHORIZATION.— 

18 The term ‘‘communications use authorization’’ 

19 means an easement, right-of-way, lease, license, or 

20 other authorization to locate or modify a commu21 nications facility on covered land by the Department 

22 concerned for the primary purpose of authorizing 

23 the occupancy and use of the covered land for com24 munications use. 


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1 (6) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘‘covered land’’ 

2 means— 

3 (A) public land administered by the Sec4 retary of the Interior; and 

5 (B) National Forest System land. 

6 (7) DEPARTMENT CONCERNED.—The term 

7 ‘‘Department concerned’’ means the Department of 

8 the Interior or the Department of Agriculture. 

9 (8) ORGANIZATION UNIT.—The term ‘‘organiza10 tional unit’’ means— 

11 (A) with respect to public land adminis12 tered by the Secretary of the Interior— 

13 (i) a State office; 

14 (ii) a district office; or 

15 (iii) a field office; and 

16 (B) within the Forest Service— 

17 (i) a regional office; 

18 (ii) the headquarters; 

19 (iii) a management unit; or 

20 (iv) a ranger district office. 

21 (9) STRIKE FORCE.—The term ‘‘Strike Force’’ 

22 means the interagency strike force established in 

23 subsection (b)(1). 

24 (b) STRIKE FORCE.— 


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1 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 

2 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assist3 ant Secretary shall establish an interagency strike 

4 force to increase prioritization by the Department 

5 concerned, senior management of the Department 

6 concerned, or an organizational unit of reviews for 

7 communications use authorizations. 

8 (2) DUTIES.—In carrying out the prioritization 

9 under paragraph (1), the Strike Force shall— 

10 (A) conduct periodic calls between mem11 bers of the Strike Force relating to requests for 

12 communications use authorizations; and 

13 (B) monitor and facilitate accountability of 

14 the Department concerned and organizational 

15 units to meet objective and reasonable goals for 

16 the review of requests for communications use 

17 authorizations. 

18 (3) MEMBERS.—The Strike Force shall be com19 posed of such representatives of Departments con20 cerned as the Assistant Secretary considers appro21 priate, in addition to— 

22 (A) the Assistant Secretary; 

23 (B) a representative of the Department 

24 concerned; 


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1 (C) senior management of the Department 

2 concerned; and 

3 (D) the head of each organizational unit. 

4 (4) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 

5 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 

6 Strike Force shall submit to the appropriate com7 mittees of Congress a report on the effectiveness of 

8 the Strike Force in increasing the prioritization of 

9 reviews for communications use authorization re10 quests. 

Æ 


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