I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6982 
To support the establishment and improvement of communications sites on 
or adjacent to Federal lands through the retention and use of rental 
fees associated with such sites, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 8, 2022 
Mr. HUFFMAN (for himself and Mr. KHANNA) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on 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 support the establishment and improvement of commu-
nications sites on or adjacent to Federal lands 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’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) COMMUNICATIONS SITE.—The term ‘‘com-
munications site’’ means an area of Federal lands 
designated or approved for communications use. 
(2) COMMUNICATIONS USE.—The term ‘‘com-
munications use’’— 
(A) means the placement, operation, or 
both, of infrastructure for wireline or wireless 
telecommunications, including cable television, 
television, and radio communications, regardless 
of whether such placement or operation is pur-
suant to a license issued by the Federal Com-
munications Commission or on an unlicensed 
basis in accordance with the regulations of the 
Commission; and 
(B) includes ancillary activities, uses, or 
facilities directly related to such placement or 
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. 
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(4) FEDERAL
LANDS.—The term ‘‘Federal 
lands’’ means lands under the jurisdiction and man-
agement of a Federal land management agency. 
(5) 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-
agement, and the Bureau of Reclamation. 
(6) RENTAL
FEE.—The term ‘‘rental fee’’ 
means a fee collected by a Federal land management 
agency for the occupancy and use authorized by a 
communications use authorization pursuant to and 
consistent with authorizing law. 
SEC. 3. COLLECTION AND RETENTION OF RENTAL FEES AS-
SOCIATED WITH COMMUNICATIONS USE AU-
THORIZATIONS ON FEDERAL LANDS AND 
FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY SUP-
PORT 
FOR 
COMMUNICATIONS 
SITE 
PRO-
GRAMS. 
(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 the Federal land 
management agency pursuant to this Act. 
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