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 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 the Interior and Department of Agriculture by senior 
management of the Department of the Interior and De-
partment 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, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:25 Mar 16, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1049.IH
H1049
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
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-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:25 Mar 16, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1049.IH
H1049
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
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. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:25 Mar 16, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1049.IH
H1049
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(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) ORGANIZATION UNIT.—The term ‘‘organiza-
tional 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. 
(9) STRIKE FORCE.—The term ‘‘Strike Force’’ 
means the interagency strike force established in 
subsection (b)(1). 
(b) STRIKE FORCE.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:25 Mar 16, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1049.IH
H1049
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(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 
concerned, senior management of the Department 
concerned, or an organizational unit of reviews for 
communications use authorizations. 
(2) DUTIES.—In carrying out the prioritization 
under paragraph (1), the Strike Force shall— 
(A) conduct periodic calls between mem-
bers of the Strike Force relating to requests for 
communications use authorizations; and 
(B) monitor and facilitate accountability of 
the Department concerned and organizational 
units to meet objective and reasonable goals for 
the review of requests for communications 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; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:25 Mar 16, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1049.IH
H1049
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(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 
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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:25 Mar 16, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1049.IH
H1049
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS