Wireless Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act

Bill: 119-hr-1541
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
Introduced: 2025-02-24
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-24
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: 2025-02-24
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Wireless Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act</strong></p><p>This bill exempts&nbsp;projects that involve the installation or modification of certain wireless communications facilities&nbsp;from specified federal environmental and historic preservation review requirements.&nbsp;</p><p>Specifically, the bill exempts from review projects that involve&nbsp;(1) the mounting or installation of an eligible personal wireless service facility with an eligible personal wireless service facility that exists when an authorization request for the mounting or installation is filed with a state or local government or an Indian tribe; or (2) the modification of an eligible personal wireless service facility.&nbsp;To be exempt, the projects must also require a permit or other authorization from, or are otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of, the Federal Communications Commission.&nbsp;</p><p>Under the bill, an <em>eligible personal wireless service facility</em> means an antenna, apparatus, or transmitting device and associated equipment for the provision of personal wireless communications service.&nbsp;</p><p>The bill specifies that these projects are not considered <em>major federal actions</em> under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or <em>undertakings</em> under the National Historic Preservation Act, thus exempting such projects from the review procedures required under those acts.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1541 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 24, 2025 Mr. Rulli 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 project for the collocation of a personal wireless service facility is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wireless Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act . 2. Application of NEPA and NHPA to collocation of certain personal wireless service facilities (a) NEPA exemption A Federal authorization with respect to a covered project may not be considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) ). (b) National Historic Preservation Act exemption A covered project may not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission. (2) Covered project The term covered project means a project— (A) for— (i) the mounting or installation of an eligible personal wireless service facility with another eligible personal wireless service facility that exists at the time at which a complete request for authorization of such mounting or installation is filed with a State or local government or instrumentality thereof or with an Indian Tribe; or (ii) the modification of an eligible personal wireless service facility; and (B) for which a permit, license, or approval from the Commission is required or that is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission. (3) Eligible personal wireless service facility The term eligible personal wireless service facility means any antenna, apparatus, or transmitting device, and any equipment, switches, wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabinets, for the provision of a personal wireless service. (4) Federal authorization The term Federal authorization — (A) means any authorization required under Federal law with respect to a covered project; and (B) includes any permits, special use authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other approvals as may be required under Federal law with respect to a covered project. (5) Indian Tribe The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term Indian tribe under section 102 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 ( 25 U.S.C. 5130 ). (6) Personal wireless services The term personal wireless services — (A) has the meaning given such term in section 332(c)(7)(C) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 332(c)(7)(C) ); and (B) also includes commercial mobile data service (as defined in section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 ( 47 U.S.C. 1401 )). (7) State The term State means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and each territory or possession of the United States.