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Bill115th CongressFiled Jan 18, 2018Science, Technology, Communications
H.R. 4824

Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Sep 12, 2018)

Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018

(Sec. 3) This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to establish a program to enter into memoranda of understanding with states and Indian tribes to allow for the permitting of broadband within an operational right-of-way to enable broadband providers to install infrastructure that allows users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications, with respect to National Forest System land, land managed by Interior, and Indian land.

The "operational right-of-way" is defined as all real property interests (including easements) acquired for the construction or operation of a project.

A state's governor, the governor's designee, or an officer designated by the governing body of the Indian tribe may enter into such a memorandum for a term not to exceed 10 years if the state or Indian tribe consents to: (1) federal court jurisdiction, (2) federal environmental review procedures, (3) judicial review of decisions regarding the public availability of documents, (4) maintenance of necessary financial resources, (5) the provision of any information that USDA or Interior needs to ensure that the state is carrying out its responsibilities, (6) the provision of revenues generated from the use of public lands to the United States, and (7) the provision of a copy of authorizing documents to the United States for proper notation and recordkeeping.

(Sec. 4) USDA or Interior must establish a broadband permit streamlining team in each state or regional office with responsibility for issuing permits for broadband projects. Under the program, USDA or Interior shall coordinate and expedite permitting decisions for broadband projects through a memorandum of understanding with USDA or Interior, as appropriate, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What just happenedSep 17, 2018

Received in the Senate.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3](R-UT)Sponsor
12 cosponsors12 R
Read on Congress.gov
12cosponsors2committees23actions1related bills9subjects
  1. Sep 17, 2018IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate.

  2. Sep 12, 2018FloorH38800

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  3. Sep 12, 2018FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. Sep 12, 2018FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8130-8131)

  5. Sep 12, 2018Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8130-8131)

  6. Sep 12, 2018FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4824.

  7. Sep 12, 2018FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8130-8133)

  8. Sep 12, 2018FloorH30300

    Mr. Gianforte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  9. Aug 3, 2018CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 679.

  10. Aug 3, 2018DischargeH12300

    Committee on Agriculture discharged.

    Agriculture Committee
  11. Aug 3, 2018Committee5500

    Committee on Agriculture discharged.

    Agriculture Committee
  12. Aug 3, 2018CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-881, Part I.

    Natural Resources Committee
  13. Aug 3, 2018Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-881, Part I.

    Natural Resources Committee
  14. Jun 6, 2018Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Natural Resources Committee
  15. Jun 6, 2018Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Natural Resources Committee
  16. Jun 6, 2018Committee

    Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged.

    Natural Resources Committee
  17. May 17, 2018Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Federal Lands Subcommittee
  18. Feb 8, 2018Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

    Forestry Subcommittee
  19. Jan 23, 2018Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

    Federal Lands Subcommittee
  20. Jan 18, 2018IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.

    Agriculture Committee
  21. Jan 18, 2018IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.

    Natural Resources Committee
  22. Jan 18, 2018IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  23. Jan 18, 2018IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedSep 12, 201836

Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018

(Sec. 3) This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to establish a program to enter into memoranda of understanding with states and Indian tribes to allow for the permitting of broadband within an operational right-of-way to enable broadband providers to install infrastructure that allows users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications, with respect to National Forest System land, land managed by Interior, and Indian land.

The "operational right-of-way" is defined as all real property interests (including easements) acquired for the construction or operation of a project.

A state's governor, the governor's designee, or an officer designated by the governing body of the Indian tribe may enter into such a memorandum for a term not to exceed 10 years if the state or Indian tribe consents to: (1) federal court jurisdiction, (2) federal environmental review procedures, (3) judicial review of decisions regarding the public availability of documents, (4) maintenance of necessary financial resources, (5) the provision of any information that USDA or Interior needs to ensure that the state is carrying out its responsibilities, (6) the provision of revenues generated from the use of public lands to the United States, and (7) the provision of a copy of authorizing documents to the United States for proper notation and recordkeeping.

(Sec. 4) USDA or Interior must establish a broadband permit streamlining team in each state or regional office with responsibility for issuing permits for broadband projects. Under the program, USDA or Interior shall coordinate and expedite permitting decisions for broadband projects through a memorandum of understanding with USDA or Interior, as appropriate, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Reported to House amended, Part IAug 3, 201818

Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to establish a program to enter into memoranda of understanding with states and Indian tribes to allow for the permitting of broadband within an operational right-of-way to enable broadband providers to install infrastructure that allows users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications, with respect to National Forest System land, land managed by Interior, and Indian land.

The "operational right-of-way" is defined as all real property interests (including easements) acquired for the construction or operation of a project.

A state's governor, the governor's designee, or an officer designated by the governing body of the Indian tribe may enter into such a memorandum for a term not to exceed 10 years if the state or Indian tribe consents to: (1) federal court jurisdiction, (2) federal environmental review procedures, (3) judicial review of decisions regarding the public availability of documents, (4) maintenance of necessary financial resources, (5) the provision of any information that USDA or Interior needs to ensure that the state is carrying out its responsibilities, (6) the provision of revenues generated from the use of public lands to the United States, and (7) the provision of a copy of authorizing documents to the United States for proper notation and recordkeeping.

The bill excludes specified broadband projects from environmental assessments or environmental impact statements.

USDA or Interior must establish a broadband permit streamlining team in each state or regional office with responsibility for issuing permits for broadband projects. Under the program, USDA or Interior shall coordinate and expedite permitting decisions for broadband projects through a memorandum of understanding with USDA or Interior, as appropriate, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Introduced in HouseJan 18, 2018

Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA), with respect to National Forest System land, and the Department of the Interior, with respect to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, to establish a program to enter into memoranda of understanding with states to allow for the permitting of broadband within an operational right-of-way to enable broadband providers to install infrastructure that allows users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications.

The "operational right-of-way" is defined as all real property interests (including easements) acquired for the construction or operation of a project.

A state's governor, or a state's top-ranking transportation official in charge of highway construction, may enter into such a memorandum for a term not to exceed 10 years if the state consents to: (1) federal court jurisdiction, (2) federal environmental review procedures, (3) judicial review of decisions regarding the public availability of documents, (4) maintenance of necessary financial resources, and (5) the provision of any information that USDA or Interior needs to ensure that the state is carrying out its responsibilities.

USDA and Interior must designate projects within an existing operational right-of-way as actions categorically excluded from federal regulations relating to environmental assessments or environmental impact statements.

Interior must establish a Federal Permit Streamlining Project in each BLM field office with responsibility for issuing permits for broadband projects. Under the program, Interior acts as the lead agency for the issuance of a single permit on behalf of all other federal agencies involved in a broadband project through a memorandum of understanding with USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018 — Informed