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 histor-
ical 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 juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide that a project to replace or improve a communica-
tions facility following a major disaster or an emergency 
declared by the President is not subject to requirements 
to prepare certain environmental or historical preserva-
tion reviews, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Connecting Commu-
nities Post Disasters Act of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO COVERED 
COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS. 
(a) NEPA EXEMPTION.—A covered project shall not 
be subject to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)). 
(b) NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT EX-
EMPTION.—A covered project shall not be considered an 
undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United 
States Code. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMUNICATIONS
FACILITY.—The term 
‘‘communications facility’’ includes— 
(A) any wireless or wireline infrastructure 
for the transmission of writing, signs, signals, 
data, images, pictures, or sounds of all kinds; 
(B) any transmitting device, tower, or sup-
port structure, and any equipment, switches, 
wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabi-
nets, associated with the provision of commu-
nications services; and 
(C) 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; and 
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(iii) is added to a tower, building, or 
other structure. 
(2) COMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE.—The term 
‘‘communications service’’ means a service for the 
transmission of writing, signs, signals, data, images, 
pictures, or sounds of all kinds. 
(3) COVERED
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘covered 
project’’ means a project that— 
(A) is to be carried out within an area for 
which the President has declared a major dis-
aster or an emergency under the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); 
(B) is to be carried out not later than 5 
years after the date on which the President 
made such declaration; and 
(C) replaces a communications facility 
damaged by such disaster or emergency or 
makes improvements to a communications facil-
ity in such area that could reasonably be con-
sidered as necessary for recovery from such dis-
aster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate fu-
ture disasters or emergencies. 
Æ 
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