Coastal Broadband Deployment Act

Bill: 116-hr-7333
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2020-06-25
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental regulatory procedures

Historic sites and heritage areas

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Coastal Broadband Deployment Act </b></p> <p>This bill excludes certain communications facility deployment or modification projects from specified review requirements.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill excludes from specified environmental and historic preservation review a project for the deployment or modification of a communications facility that is to be carried out entirely within a floodplain (the lowland and relatively flat areas adjoining inland and coastal waters). </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7333 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2020 Mr. Bilirakis 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide that a request for the deployment or modification of a communications facility entirely within a floodplain is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Coastal Broadband Deployment Act . 2. Application of NEPA and NHPA to floodplains (a) 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 support structure, and any equipment, switches, wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabinets, associated with the provision of communications service; 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 (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 for the deployment or modification of a communications facility that is to be carried out entirely within a floodplain (as defined in section 9.4 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, as of the date of enactment of this Act). (b) NEPA categorical exclusion (1) In general A covered project subject to the approval of the Commission shall be categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332 ). (2) Relation to extraordinary circumstances procedures The use of the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1) shall not be considered to include extraordinary circumstances under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, or section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor to such regulations). (c) National Historic Preservation Act exemption A covered project for which the Commission is required to issue a permit or that is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission shall not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code.