DIGITAL Applications Act

The DIGITAL Applications Act would require the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to establish online portals for processing applications related to communications infrastructure on public lands and National Forest System land. These portals would handle requests for easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, and other authorizations needed to locate or modify transmitting devices, support structures, and other communications facilities.

Under the bill, both agencies would be required to notify the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within three business days of launching their respective portals. Once operational, the NTIA would link to these portals from its own website, creating a centralized access point for applicants seeking communications authorizations.

For everyday citizens, this bill would streamline the process for telecommunications companies and other entities seeking to build or upgrade communications infrastructure on federal lands. By moving applications online and creating a centralized directory, the bill aims to reduce processing times and administrative burden, potentially leading to faster deployment of broadband and wireless services in areas served by public lands.