HR1343-119

What This Bill Does

The Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit a plan to Congress within 180 days after enactment. The plan must explain how the Assistant Secretary proposes to track acceptance, processing, and disposal of each Form 299 application for communications-use authorization; provide applicants more transparency on the status of each authorization form; implement the plan as quickly as possible; and identify barriers to implementation. The covered authorizations are easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, or other approvals from the Interior or Agriculture Secretaries to locate or modify communications facilities on public lands or National Forest System land. Public lands include land managed by BLM, the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation.

Who Benefits and How

Broadband providers benefit because the plan is aimed at tracking and explaining the status of Form 299 applications. Communications facility developers benefit from potential transparency around rights-of-way, leases, licenses, and other federal land approvals. Applicants using public lands or National Forest System land benefit if the plan reduces uncertainty over whether applications have been accepted, processed, or disposed of. Congressional oversight committees benefit from a concrete implementation plan and a list of barriers. Rural and remote communities benefit indirectly if tracking improvements help move broadband facilities through federal land approval queues.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Assistant Secretary must design the tracking plan, coordinate with land-management agencies, identify barriers, and report to Congress within 180 days. Interior and Agriculture land-management offices may need to share Form 299 workflow data and adapt processes if the plan is later implemented. BLM, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Forest Service offices face potential tracking and transparency work. Agency IT and permitting staff must map status data for communications-use authorizations.

Key Provisions

• Directs a Form 299 tracking plan within 180 days after enactment.
• Requires tracking of acceptance, processing, and disposal of communications-use authorization forms.
• Requires added transparency for applicants on Form 299 status.
• Requires the plan to explain expedited implementation and identify barriers.
• Covers communications facilities on public lands and National Forest System land.
• Defines public lands to include BLM, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation lands.