Summary
Establishes a special team of government officials to make sure requests to build internet equipment on federal land are reviewed and approved more quickly.
What problem does this solve?
Getting permission to build internet infrastructure on federal land can be a slow process, which delays expanding internet access to more people. This bill creates a special government team, or strike force, to make sure these requests are a top priority and are handled quickly.
Who does this affect?
- Telecommunications companies
- Federal land management agencies
- Rural communities
What does this bill do?
Establishes an interagency strike force
Creates a special team to ensure federal land agencies prioritize reviewing requests for building communications facilities.
Defines strike force duties
Requires the strike force to hold regular calls, set reasonable goals for reviewing requests, and hold agencies accountable for meeting those goals.
Specifies strike force members
Includes the Assistant Secretary of Commerce, heads of the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service, and designees from the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior.
Requires a report to congress
Mandates that the Assistant Secretary report to Congress on the strike force's effectiveness within 270 days of the bill becoming law.
Identifies affected agencies
Specifies that the new rules apply to the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.
What is the real world impact?
•
Prioritizes corporate development over land management
Forces federal land agencies to speed up approvals for communications companies, which could lead to less thorough reviews of the environmental impact or other public uses of the land.
•
Aims to expand internet access in rural areas
Speeds up the approval process for building internet equipment on federal lands, which are often located in or near rural communities that lack reliable high-speed internet.
When does this start?
The bill sets specific deadlines for creating the strike force and reporting its progress to Congress.
Strike force establishment
The interagency strike force must be created no later than 180 days after the bill becomes law.
Report to congress
A report on the strike force's effectiveness must be submitted to Congress no later than 270 days after the bill becomes law.