I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7421 
To require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
Information to establish an interagency strike force to increase 
prioritization by the Department of Interior and Department of Agri-
culture by senior management of the Department of Interior and Depart-
ment of Agriculture, or an organizational unit of reviews for communica-
tions use authorizations. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 30, 2020 
Mr. DUNCAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 
Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined 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 Commu-
nications and Information to establish an interagency 
strike force to increase prioritization by the Department 
of Interior and Department of Agriculture by senior 
management of the Department of Interior and Depart-
ment of Agriculture, or an organizational unit of reviews 
for communications use authorizations. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Expediting Federal 
Broadband Deployment Reviews Act’’. 
SEC. 2. STRIKE FORCE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives; 
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives; 
(C) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; and 
(D) the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate. 
(2) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist-
ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Communications and Information. 
(3) COMMUNICATIONS
FACILITY.—The term 
‘‘communications facility’’ includes— 
(A) any infrastructure, including any 
transmitting device, tower, or support structure, 
and any equipment, switches, wiring, cabling, 
power sources, shelters, or cabinets, associated 
with the licensed or permitted unlicensed wire-
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less or wireline transmission of writings, signs, 
signals, data, images, pictures, and sounds of 
all kinds; and 
(B) any antenna or apparatus that— 
(i) is designed for the purpose of 
emitting radio frequency; 
(ii) is designed to be operated, or is 
operating, from a fixed location pursuant 
to authorization by the Commission or is 
using duly authorized devices that do not 
require individual licenses; and 
(iii) is added to a tower, building, or 
other structure. 
(4) COMMUNICATIONS USE.—The term ‘‘com-
munications use’’ means the placement and oper-
ation of a communications facility. 
(5) COMMUNICATIONS USE AUTHORIZATION.— 
The term ‘‘communications use authorization’’ 
means an easement, right-of-way, lease, license, or 
other authorization to locate or modify a commu-
nications facility on covered land by the Department 
concerned for the primary purpose of authorizing 
the occupancy and use of the covered land for com-
munications use. 
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(6) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘‘covered land’’ 
means— 
(A) public land administered by the Sec-
retary of the Interior; and 
(B) National Forest System land. 
(7) DEPARTMENT
CONCERNED.—The term 
‘‘Department concerned’’ means the Department of 
the Interior or the Department of Agriculture. 
(8) ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT.—The term ‘‘orga-
nizational unit’’ means— 
(A) with respect to public land adminis-
tered by the Secretary of the Interior— 
(i) a State office; 
(ii) a district office; or 
(iii) a field office; and 
(B) within the Forest Service— 
(i) a regional office; 
(ii) the headquarters; 
(iii) a management unit; or 
(iv) a ranger district office. 
(b) STRIKE FORCE.—In this section: 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assist-
ant Secretary shall establish an interagency strike 
force to increase prioritization by the Department 
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concerned, senior management of the Department 
concerned, or an organizational unit of reviews for 
communications use authorizations. 
(2) DUTIES.—In carrying out the study under 
paragraph (1), the Strike Force shall— 
(A) facilitate periodic calls between mem-
bers of the strike force pertaining to requests 
for communications use authorizations; and 
(B) facilitate monitoring and account-
ability of the Department concerned and orga-
nizational units to meet objective and reason-
able goals for the review of requests for commu-
nications use authorizations. 
(3) MEMBERS.—The Strike Force shall be com-
posed of such representatives of Departments con-
cerned as the Assistant Secretary considers appro-
priate, in addition to— 
(A) the Assistant Secretary; 
(B) a representative of the Department 
concerned; 
(C) senior management of the Department 
concerned; and 
(D) the head of each organizational unit. 
(4) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 
270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
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Strike Force shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a report on the effectiveness of 
the Strike Force in increasing the prioritization of 
reviews for communications use authorization re-
quests. 
Æ 
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