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.
Bill: H.R.1049 | Sponsor: Rep. Duncan, Jeff (R-SC)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act
This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to establish an interagency strike force to increase specified agencies' prioritization of reviews for communications use authorizations on federal property. A communications use authorization is an easement, right-of-way, lease, license, or other authorization to locate or modify a communications facility on certain public land.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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 congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce 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 ``Assistant 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 wireless 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 ``communications use'' 
        means the placement and operation 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 communications facility on covered land by the 
        Department concerned for the primary purpose of authorizing the 
        occupancy and use of the covered land for communications use.
            (6) Covered land.--The term ``covered land'' means--
                    (A) public land administered by the Secretary 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 ``organizational unit'' 
        means--
                    (A) with respect to public land administered 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.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Assistant 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 members 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 composed of such 
        representatives of Departments concerned as the Assistant 
        Secretary considers appropriate, 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 Strike Force shall submit to 
        the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
        effectiveness of the Strike Force in increasing the 
        prioritization of reviews for communications use authorization 
        requests.
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