I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1050 

To provide that a project to replace or improve a communications facility 

following a major disaster or an emergency declared by the President 

is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 

Mr. DUNN 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 to replace or improve a communications facility following a major disaster or an emergency 

declared by the President is not subject to requirements 

to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews, and for other purposes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Connecting Commu5 nities Post Disasters Act of 2021’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO COVERED 

2 COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS. 

3 (a) NEPA EXEMPTION.—A covered project shall not 

4 be subject to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the 

5 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 

6 4332(2)(C)). 

7 (b) NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT EX8 EMPTION.—A covered project shall not be considered an 

9 undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United 

10 States Code. 

11 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

12 (1) COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY.—The term 

13 ‘‘communications facility’’ includes— 

14 (A) any wireless or wireline infrastructure 

15 for the transmission of writing, signs, signals, 

16 data, images, pictures, or sounds of all kinds; 

17 (B) any transmitting device, tower, or sup18 port structure, and any equipment, switches, 

19 wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabi20 nets, associated with the provision of commu21 nications services; and 

22 (C) any antenna or apparatus that— 

23 (i) is designed for the purpose of 

24 emitting radio frequency; 

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

26 operating, from a fixed location; and 

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

2 other structure. 

3 (2) COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE.—The term 

4 ‘‘communications service’’ means a service for the 

5 transmission of writing, signs, signals, data, images, 

6 pictures, or sounds of all kinds. 

7 (3) COVERED PROJECT.—The term ‘‘covered 

8 project’’ means a project that— 

9 (A) is to be carried out within an area for 

10 which the President has declared a major dis11 aster or an emergency under the Robert T. 

12 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist13 ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); 

14 (B) is to be carried out not later than 5 

15 years after the date on which the President 

16 made such declaration; and 

17 (C) replaces a communications facility 

18 damaged by such disaster or emergency or 

19 makes improvements to a communications facil20 ity in such area that could reasonably be con21 sidered as necessary for recovery from such dis22 aster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate fu23 ture disasters or emergencies. 

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