Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act
Description
This bill would create an interagency strike force to speed up federal reviews of requests to build broadband facilities on public lands.
Summary
What it does
This bill would establish an interagency strike force to assist federal land management agencies in reviewing requests for communications use authorizations on public lands. The strike force would be responsible for setting review goals, monitoring agency accountability, and ensuring that agencies prioritize the processing of these requests. Additionally, the group would be required to report to Congress on its effectiveness in facilitating the deployment of communications facilities.
Who is affected
This bill affects federal land management agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, which must participate in a new interagency strike force. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is also affected as a required member of the strike force. Additionally, entities seeking to modify or locate communications facilities on public lands are affected by changes to the review process for communications use authorizations.
Key provisions
- Establishment of an interagency strike force. The bill creates a multi-agency task force to assist federal land management agencies in reviewing requests for communications use authorizations on public lands.
- Review prioritization and goal setting. The strike force is required to hold periodic meetings to ensure agencies prioritize authorization requests and must establish specific goals for the review process.
- Agency accountability and monitoring. The strike force must monitor federal agencies to ensure they are meeting established goals and facilitate accountability for the processing of broadband deployment requests.
- Strike force membership requirements. The group must include the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, heads of federal land management agencies, and designees from the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior.
- Congressional reporting on effectiveness. The bill mandates that the strike force submit reports to Congress regarding its overall effectiveness in supporting the review of communications use authorizations.
Fiscal impact
- H.R. 1681, Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act· As reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 4, 2026
- H.R. 1681, Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act· As ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on April 9, 2025
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
The bill coordinates with existing federal land management agencies to streamline the established process for reviewing communications use authorizations, which are currently required to modify or locate communications facilities on public lands.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to streamline the deployment of broadband infrastructure on public lands by establishing an interagency strike force to prioritize and monitor the review of communications use authorizations. This body is intended to set performance goals and ensure accountability among federal land management agencies to expedite the processing of requests for communications facility modifications or locations.