I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2425 
To support the establishment and improvement of communications sites on 
or adjacent to Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 
of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture through the retention 
and use of rental fees associated with such sites, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 16, 2017 
Mr. HUFFMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agri-
culture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To support the establishment and improvement of commu-
nications sites on or adjacent to Federal lands under 
the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the 
Secretary of Agriculture through the retention and use 
of rental fees associated with such sites, 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 ‘‘Public Lands Tele-
communications Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMUNICATIONS SITE.—The term ‘‘com-
munications site’’ means an area of Federal lands 
designated for telecommunications uses. 
(2) COMMUNICATIONS USE.—The term ‘‘com-
munications use’’ means the placement and oper-
ation of infrastructure for wireline or wireless tele-
communications, regardless of whether the use of 
radio frequencies by such telecommunications is pur-
suant to a license issued by the Federal Communica-
tions Commission or on an unlicensed basis in ac-
cordance with the regulations of the Commission. 
The term includes ancillary activities directly related 
to such placement and operation. 
(3) COMMUNICATIONS USE AUTHORIZATION.— 
The term ‘‘communications use authorization’’ 
means a right-of-way, permit, or lease granted, 
issued, or executed by a Federal land management 
agency for the primary purpose of authorizing the 
occupancy and use of Federal lands for communica-
tions use. 
(4) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY.— 
The term ‘‘Federal land management agency’’ 
means the National Park Service, the United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Man-
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agement, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Forest 
Service. 
(5) FEDERAL
LANDS.—The term ‘‘Federal 
lands’’ means lands under the jurisdiction and man-
agement of a Federal land management agency. 
(6) RENTAL
FEE.—The term ‘‘rental fee’’ 
means the fee collected by a Federal land manage-
ment agency for the occupancy and use authorized 
by a communications use authorization pursuant to 
and consistent with authorizing law. 
SEC. 3. RETENTION OF RENTAL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH 
COMMUNICATIONS USE AUTHORIZATIONS ON 
FEDERAL LANDS AND FEDERAL LAND MAN-
AGEMENT AGENCY SUPPORT FOR COMMU-
NICATION SITE PROGRAMS. 
(a) SPECIAL ACCOUNT REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
the Treasury shall establish a special account in the 
Treasury for each Federal land management agency for 
the deposit of rental fees received by a Federal land man-
agement agency for communications use authorizations on 
Federal lands granted, issued, or executed by the Federal 
land management agency. 
(b) DEPOSIT AND RETENTION OF RENTAL FEES.— 
Rental fees received by a Federal land management agen-
cy shall— 
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(d) NO EFFECT ON OTHER FEE RETENTION AU-
THORITIES.—This Act shall not limit or otherwise affect 
fee retention by a Federal land management agency under 
any other authority. 
SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AUTHORITY. 
(a) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.—The Secretary 
of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements to 
carry out the activities described in section 3(c). 
(b) FOREST SERVICE.—The Secretary of Agriculture, 
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may enter 
into cooperative agreements to carry out the activities de-
scribed in section 3(c). 
Æ 
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