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This bill would make it easier and faster to add or upgrade wireless service equipment that is being placed on an existing wireless site or modified at an existing site. It says these projects would not have to go through certain federal environmental review steps under the National Environmental Policy Act or historic preservation review steps under the National Historic Preservation Act. In simple terms, the bill aims to speed up wireless broadband deployment by reducing review requirements for some small or routine wireless facility projects.
- It applies to projects that install or mount one eligible wireless facility with another existing one, or that modify an eligible wireless facility.
- The bill says these projects would not count as a “major federal action” for environmental review purposes.
- It also says these projects would not count as an “undertaking” that triggers federal historic preservation review.
- The Federal Communications Commission would still need to have permit, approval, or other jurisdiction over the project for the exemption to apply.
Official Summaries
Wireless Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act
This bill exempts projects that involve the installation or modification of certain wireless communications facilities from specified federal environmental and historic preservation review requirements.
Specifically, the bill exempts from review projects that involve (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. 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.
Under the bill, an eligible personal wireless service facility means an antenna, apparatus, or transmitting device and associated equipment for the provision of personal wireless communications service.
The bill specifies that these projects are not considered major federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or undertakings under the National Historic Preservation Act, thus exempting such projects from the review procedures required under those acts.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1541 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1541
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wireless Broadband Competition and
Efficient Deployment Act''.
SEC. 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.
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